Severe weather warnings have been issued for Renfrewshire as Storm Bram moves across Scotland, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and a flood alert for west central areas.
The Met Office has downgraded the wind warning for Renfrewshire from amber to yellow, meaning disruption is still possible but conditions are no longer expected to be as severe locally as first forecast.
A yellow warning for rain is in place for Renfrewshire from 6:00am until 12:00pm on Tuesday 9th December, with heavy downpours expected to cause difficult travel conditions during the morning. Spray and surface water flooding could make journey times longer, with a small risk of flooding to a limited number of homes and businesses.
Two yellow wind warnings also cover Renfrewshire.
The first runs from 12:00pm on Tuesday 9th December until 12:00pm on Wednesday 10th December, with Storm Bram expected to bring very strong winds from Tuesday afternoon through to Wednesday morning.
A second overlapping warning is in place from 12:00pm on Tuesday until 6:00am on Wednesday, highlighting the risk of disruption overnight.
Strong winds could lead to delays across road, rail, air and ferry services, with some routes facing longer journey times or cancellations. Drivers of high-sided vehicles are warned of difficult conditions on exposed routes and bridges, while coastal communities could be affected by spray and large waves. Short-term power cuts are also possible.
An amber wind warning remains in force elsewhere, covering the Western Isles, north-west Highlands and Argyll and Bute from 4:00pm until midnight on Tuesday. In these areas, south-westerly gusts of 70–80mph are expected widely, with up to 90mph possible in a few locations.
Storm Bram, named by the Irish weather service Met Éireann, is forecast to bring unsettled conditions to much of Scotland.
A flood alert for West Central Scotland is also in place, warning of possible coastal, river and surface water flooding. The greatest risk is expected around Tuesday afternoon’s high tide, when strong winds and high sea levels could lead to wave overtopping in exposed coastal areas and flooding of low-lying roads and properties.
SEPA has warned that heavy and persistent rain could also lead to minor flooding from smaller rivers and surface water, particularly in urban areas and across the transport network.
Network Rail has advised passengers to check their journeys before travelling, with train speeds reduced on some routes as a safety precaution.
Storm Bram is the second named storm of the season, following Storm Amy in October, which caused widespread travel disruption and power cuts across Scotland. Residents are being urged to stay aware of the latest forecasts and take care when travelling.