Perth and Kinross to be hit by hurricane-force winds as Storm Agnes closes in

Moisture from tropical Storm Ophelia in the United States has been scooped up by a deep low pressure system, and is expected to bring 80mph winds

Perth and Kinross will be hit by hurricane-force winds this week as Storm Agnes barrels in from across the Atlantic Ocean.

Moisture from tropical Storm Ophelia in the United States has been scooped up by a deep low pressure system, and is expected to bring 80mph winds over two days.

It has resulted in a yellow weather warning from the Met Office predicting possible power cuts, flooding and “a danger to life” from flying debris.

If it meets the criteria for a named storm, the Met Office will call it Storm Agnes.

Meteorologists have been tracking the development of the storm since last week, when its first impacts were felt by communities on the eastern seaboard of the USA.

The danger period begins at 10am on Wednesday and lasts through until 7am on Thursday and covers most of Scotland.

The areas most at risk include Tayside and Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Grampian, Central, the Highland and Islands and Strathclyde.

Deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, Mark Sidaway said: “The start of this week will continue showery for many with strong winds in northwestern areas.

“There is the potential for a deep area of low pressure to bring further heavy rain and disruptive winds on Wednesday and Thursday but details on timings and the exact location of potential impacts remain uncertain this far ahead.”

The current Met Office warning suggests this week’s event could be “significantly disruptive”.

It states: “There is a small chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris.

“There is a slight chance of some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from rooves.

“There is a slight chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

“Longer journey times are likely, or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected. Some roads and bridges are likely to close.

“There is a small chance that injuries and danger to life could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties; with a chance of some minor flooding of coastal roads.”

Forecaster Ellie Glaisyer said: “Scotland is going to be very wet and windy from Wednesday and into Thursday.

“Inland, we widely expect winds of between 50 and 60mph and possibly 70-75mph on coasts facing the Irish Sea.

“A few isolated gusts of 80mph are expected in south-west Scotland.”

The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale begins at 74mph, which confirms the upcoming event as hurricane-force.