Storm Barbara Closes Schools, Knocks Out Power in Scotland

Eric Chaney
Published: December 23,2016
Storm Barbara blew through Scotland on Friday, causing power cuts, closing schools and impacting travel conditions for thousands.

According to the BBC, nearly 120 school sites involving more than 8,500 pupils were shut in the Highlands on Friday. Ferries to the Northern and Western Isles and some train services in the region were canceled, and power cuts affected the area amid high winds.

 

Waves crash into the harbor wall in Ardrossan in Ayrshire, Scotland as Storm Barbara hits the British coastline on December 23, 2016.
(ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Storm Barbara blew in as an impressive, classic Icelandic low, " said weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman.  

 

Winds gusted to 75 mph on South Uist in the Outer Herbrides of Scotland early Friday, he said.

 

 

The storm was also responsible for localized flash flooding in Ireland, News Flare reports. 

Another storm will follow Babara through the same area of Scotland on Saturday.
"Thanks to a classic, active winter jet stream across the North Atlantic, Christmas Day will feature another blast of strong winds from the next system," said Erdman, "which has been named Storm Conor by the U.K. Met office."

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The UK Met Office issued an amber warning for northernmost Scotland on Friday, which warns residents that the “there is an increased likelihood of bad weather affecting you, which could potentially disrupt your plans and possibly cause travel delays, road and rail closures, interruption to power and the potential risk to life and property.”

A woman walks her dog through early morning fog in West Sussex, England. Fog is hampering travel in the United Kingdom as Storm Barbara moves in before the Christmas holiday.
(Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)

Heavy fog ahead of Storm Barbara caused travel disruptions in the United Kingdom on Thursday. Significant fog-related delays at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports, slowed travel for thousands heading out for the Christmas holiday on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.British Airways officials told the AP air traffic controllers had to allow greater space between planes because of the low visibility, leading to a reduced number of takeoffs and landings per hour. According to FlightAware more than 20 percent of flights out of Heathrow and London City were delayed on Thursday.
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