[Iain MacAonghais – Preseantair] Feasgar math agus fàilte oirbh chun a’ phrògraim a-nochd. Tha an dàrna latha de dhroch shìde air buaidh a thoirt air cùisean air feadh na dùthcha. Bha còrr air deich thar fhichead mìle dachaigh às aonais cumhachd an dealain aig aon àm an-diugh air feadh na dùthcha, ged a chaidh an dealan a thilleadh gu cuid tron latha an-diugh. Ràinig neart na gaoithe còrr is ceithir fichead mìle san uair ann an diofar sgìrean, agus chaidh tuinn anns an robh àirde còrr is leth-cheud troigh a chlàradh far chosta siar na h-Alba. Tha dùil gum bi cùisean garbh gu co-dhiù meadhain-oidhche a-nochd. Tha an luchd-naidheachd againn air a bhith a’ toirt sùil air cùisean air feadh na dùthcha.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Uill, bha latha mì-chàilear dha-rìribh againn ann an seo ann an Leòdhas ged a tha sinn ann an rud beag de dh’fhasgadh an-dràsta agus sinn anns a’ Ghearraidh Chruaidh. Tha an droch shìde air buaidh a thoirt air cùisean an seo agus gu dearbha air tìr-mòr, gu h-àraidh air seirbheisean còmhdail mar a bha Seonaidh MacCoinnich a’ faighinn a-mach agus e ann an Loch Abar an-diugh.
[Seonaidh MacCoinnich – Neach-aithris] An seo ann am Malaig, cha robh an stoirm cho dona ‘s a bha an dùil, ach thug i buaidh fhathast air seirbheisean còmhdail agus foghlaim. Cha robh Àrd-sgoil Mhalaig fosgailte an-diugh agus cha robh seirbheisean rèile a’ ruith eadar an Gearastain agus Malaig. Cuideachd, cha robh am bàta-aiseag, An Loch Nibheis, a’ seòladh eadar Malaig agus na h-Eileanan beaga agus an Eilean Sgitheanach. Cuideachd, tha tòrr dealanaich agus tàirneanaich air a bhith air a’ chosta an iar an-diugh, agus còmhla ris a’ ghaoith thug sin buaidh air seirbheisean dealain sa sgìre. Aig dà uair feasgar, bha fhathast trì ceud neach gun dealan anns an sgìre eadar Ath Tharrachail agus Cille Chòmhainn.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Tha cùisean ann an Earra-Ghàidheal air a bhith a cheart cho riaslach an-diugh. Bha na h-aiseagan anns an sgìre air fad nan tàmh. Tha Andreas Wolff a-nis ag aithris.
[Andreas Wolff – Neach-aithris] Cha robh sìon a’ dol an seo anns an Òban an-diugh a thaobh nan aiseagan. Bha na seirbheisean uile dheth aig prìomh phort a’ chosta an iar. Is beag an t-iongnadh bha na tonnan nas motha an seo a-mach bho chladach Earra-Ghàidheil. Ann an Tiriodh, mar eisimpleir, bha a’ ghaoth a’ ruighinn ochdad mìle san uair aig cuid de dh’amannan . Bha na trèanaichean air loidhne rèile taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd cuideachd dheth. Fad an latha an-diugh, cha robh trèan a’ dol gu ruige an Òban, no gu dearbha, gu ruige a’ Ghearastan agus Malaig. Ach ann an seo fhèin anns an Òban, cha robh cùisean buileach cho dona, ged a bha SEPA a’ rabhadh foillseachadh mu thuiltean. A thaobh an latha a-màireach, tha na h-aiseagan co-dhiù uile le rabhadh orainds orra, cho fad ‘s chì mi.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Bha an sgioba againn fhìn ann an Steòrnabhagh trang an-diugh, is sinn air a bhith a-muigh ann an diofar sgìrean a’ cruinneachadh dhealbhan dhe na suailichean mòra a th’ air a bhith ann leis an droch shìde a tha seo. Bhruidhinn mi-fhèin ri aon eòlaiche a tha den bheachd gu bheil a’ mhuir cho dona an-dràsta is a chunnaic esan a-riamh.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Chan eil teagamh nach eil i air a bhith fiadhaich an seo ann an Leòdhas anns an dà latha mu dheireadh, ach ma tha aon rud cinnteach, ‘s e gu bheil muinntir nan Eilean Siar an ìre mhath cleachdte ris an seòrsa sìde seo. Bha sgoiltean agus seirbheisean eile dùinte an-diugh, ach do mhòran, chùm iad orra gu h-àbhaisteach. Aon rud a tha inntinneach ge-tà, ‘s e cho mòr ‘s a tha na suailichean air a bhith air a’ chosta an iar.
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] We’re seeing, at the moment, at the peak, of this storm, where these wave buoys are, we’re seeing wave heights in the order of seventeen meters, which is about fitfty, sixty feet. These are big waves.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Ach dè is coireach gu bheil a’ mhuir an-dràsta cho dona?
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] The low pressure system has developed over Greenland and the east coast of America, and has been tracking across the north Atlantic for several thousand kilometres, all the time the winds have been getting stronger, putting more energy into the sea, and therefore you’re getting bigger waves. As that wind passes through the UK and off, and starts to dissipate we’ll see the waves fall again, as the energy dissipates.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Tha Ruaraidh dhen bheachd ged a bha an gèile caran àbhaisteach, gu robh mar a làimhsich na h-ùghdarrasan na cùis freagarrach.
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] I think it’s a very appropriate response, you know, we’ll be expecting big waves, big winds, safety is paramount and we live in an island as you said earlier, we have low lying coasts, exposed roads, safety is important – we don’t want to lose anyone.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] A’ coimhead air adhairt chun a-màireach, tha dùil gum bi i fiadhaich, ach tha Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ag ràdh gum bi a’ mhòr chuid de na sgoiltean aca fosgailte. Bidh Sgoil Bhàgh a’ Chaisteil ann am Barraigh dùinte ge-tà agus tha a’ Chomhairle ag ràdh gu leig iad fios gu daoine ma dh’atharraicheas cùisean a thaobh sgoiltean eile. Dh’fhaodadh gum bi cuid de na h-aiseagan a’ falbh, ach ‘s e a’ chomhairle a th’ ann do luchd-siubhail fios a chur gu Calmac mus falbh iad.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Thèid sinn a-nis a dh’Uibhist far a bheil Shona NicDhòmhnaill ag aithris. Bha an dealan dheth an-diugh ann an sin greiseag, bha na sgoiltean dùinte agus tha cion aiseig a-nis a’ tòiseachadh air buaidh a thoirt air na bùithtean.
[Shona NicDhòmhnaill – Neach-aithris] Ràinig oiteag gaoithe trì-fichead ‘s a naoi-deug mìle san uair ann an Uibhist a Deas madainn an-diugh, agus chùm a’ ghaoth làidir sin a’ dol fad an latha. Còmhla ris an sin, thàinig na tuinn mhòra air an robh luchd-aithris a’ bruidhinn an-dè. Dh’fhàg sin sprùilleach agus feamainn air ròidean ann an Uibhist a Deas, agus cabhsairean Èirisgeidh agus Bhatarsaigh. Chaidh an dà chabhsair sin a dhùnadh airson greis dhen latha ach tha iad air fosgladh a-rithist. A bharrachd air iarraidh air daoine a bhith faiceallach a’ dol thairis nan cabhsairean eile ann an Uibhist, cha do chuir an droch aimsir bacadh sam bith orra.
[Shona NicDhòmhnaill – Neach-aithris] Bha ceud trì-fichead ‘s a deich dachaigh gun dealan airson mu uair a thìde tron oidhche a-raoir ann an Uibhist, agus an uair sin a-rithist, còmhla ris a’ chòrr de na h-Eileanan an Iar sa mhadainn an-diugh. Fhuair a’ chuid mhòr an dealan air ais ann an ceann beagan uairean a thìde, agus bha dùil gum biodh e air ais air aig a h-uile duine a-nochd fhathast. Bha a h-uile sgoil ann an Uibhist is Barraigh dùinte, còmhla ri ionadan spòrs is grunn àitichean eile, mar sin, cha robh na ròidean ach sàmhach. Cha deach brath sam bith a chur gu na poileis air milleadh no èiginn sam bith air feadh nan eileanan seo. Airson an dàrna latha, cha do sheòl aiseag a dh’Uibhist, agus mar sin, tha na bùithtean a’ fas gann de bhiadh làitheil mar aran agus bainne. Thathar an dùil gun tuit a’ ghaoth gu ìre a bhios sàbhailte do dh’aiseagan seòladh tron latha a-màireach.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Agus mu dheireadh a-nochd, bheir sinn sùil air cùisean anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus Eilidh NicLeòid ag aithris.
[Eilidh NicLeoid – Neach-aithris] Cleas sgìrean eile, thug an t-sìde buaidh air seirbheisean agus goireasan anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. Bha cha mhòr a h-uile sgoil dùinte, agus bha drochaid an Eilein dùinte do charbadan àirde. Chaidh an dealan dheth greiseag tron oidhche agus tron latha ann an cuid de dh’àitichean air sgàth dealanaich. Cha robh aiseagan a’ seòladh agus b’ fheudair do bhàtaichean fasgadh a ghabhail. Am fear seo air an taobh sear a-mach à cidhe Stafainn , far an robh rud beag a bharrachd fasgaidh ann. Nas fhaide tuath agus bha neart na gaoithe na b’ fhollaisiche aig muir agus air tìr.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Sin agaibh ma-thà criomag bheag dhe na tha air a bhith a’ dol air feadh na dùthcha an-diugh agus an droch shìde a’ ciallachadh gu bheil cùisean air a bhith riaslach dha-rìribh. The eòlaichean sìde ag radh gum bi i fiadhaich gu co-dhiù meadhan-oidhche a-nochd, mar sin, feuch gum bi sibh sàbhailte.
[Ian MacInnes – Presenter] Good evening and welcome to tonight’s programme. The second day of bad weather has affected matters across the country. There were more than thirty thousand homes without power at one point today throughout the country, although the power was restored to many throughout the day. At its peak, the wind reached more than eighty miles per hour in different areas, and waves higher than fifty feet were recorded off the west coast of Scotland. High winds are expected until at least midnight tonight. Our reporters have been looking at situations throughout the country.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Well, it was an unpleasant day indeed here in Lewis although we have a little bit of shelter just now, in the Castle Grounds. The bad weather has had an effect on things here and on the mainland, especially on transport services as John MacKenzie found out in Lochaber today.
[John MacKenzie – Reporter] Here in Mallaig, the storm wasn’t as bad as expected, but it had an effect on transport services and education. Mallaig High School wasn’t open today and rail services weren’t running between Fort William and Mallaig. Also, the Loch Nevis ferry wasn’t sailing between Mallaig and the Small Isles and the Isle of Skye. Also, there has been a lot of lightning and thunder on the west coast today, and along with the wind, this affected the power services in the area. At two o’ clock in the afternoon, three hundred people were without power in the Acharacle and Kilchoan area.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] The situation in Argyll has been just as difficult today. All the ferries in the area were at rest. Andreas Wolff reports.
[Andreas Wolff – Reporter] There was nothing doing here in Oban today in terms of ferries. All the services from the main western port were cancelled. It’s little wonder as the biggest waves were off the Argyll coast. In Tiree, for example, the wind reached eighty miles per hour at times. Trains on the west highland rail line were also suspended. All day today, there were no trains going to Oban, or indeed, to Fort William and Mallaig. But here in Oban, the situation wasn’t quite as bad, though SEPA warned about floods In terms of tomorrow, the ferries are all on an orange warning, as far as I can see.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Our own team were busy in Stornoway today, out in various areas collecting pictures of the large swells due to this bad weather. I spoke to an expert who was of the opinion that he’d never seen the sea so fierce.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] There’s no question that it hasn’t been wild here in Lewis in the last two days, but if one thing is certain, it’s that the people of Western Isles are accustomed to this type of weather. The schools and other services were closed today, but for many, they continued as usual. One thing that’s interesting though, is how large the swells have been on the west coast.
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] We’re seeing, at the moment, at the peak, of this storm, where these wave buoys are, we’re seeing wave heights in the order of seventeen meters, which is about fitfty, sixty feet. These are big waves.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] And why is the sea so violent just now?
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] The low pressure system has developed over Greenland and the east coast of America, and has been tracking across the north Atlantic for several thousand kilometres, all the time the winds have been getting stronger, putting more energy into the sea, and therefore you’re getting bigger waves. As that wind passes through the UK and off, and starts to dissipate we’ll see the waves fall again, as the energy dissipates.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Roddy believes that although the gale was fairly normal, that the authorities dealt with it in the correct manner.
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] I think it’s a very appropriate response, you know, we’ll be expecting big waves, big winds, safety is paramount and we live in an island as you said earlier, we have low lying coasts, exposed roads, safety is important – we don’t want to lose anyone.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Looking forward to tomorrow, it’s expected to be wild, but Western Isles Council say that most schools will be open. Castlebay School in Barra will be closed though, and the council say they will let people know if circumstances change with regards to other schools. Some of the ferries could sail, but it’s recommended that travellers get in touch with CalMac before they depart.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] We’ll now go to Uist where Shona MacDonald reports. The power was off today for a while, and the schools were closed and the shortage of ferries is now affecting the shops.
[Shona MacDonald – Reporter] A gust of wind reached seventy-nine miles per hour in South Uist this morning, and the strong wind continued throughout the day. Along with that, large waves appeared that reporters spoke of yesterday. That left debris and seaweed on the roads of South Uist, and Eriskay and Vatersay causeways. Both causeways were closed for part of the day but they were opened again. Other than asking people to take care when crossing the other causeways in Uist, the bad weather didn’t hold them back at all.
[Shona MacDonald – Reporter] There were one hundred and seventy homes without power for around an hour throughout the night last night in Uist, and then again this morning along with the rest of the Western Isles. Most got their power back within a few hours, and it was expected that everyone would have it back by tonight. Every school in Uist and Barra was closed, along with sports centre and various other places, therefore, the roads were quiet. The police didn’t receive any reports of damage or emergency across these islands. For the second day, ferries didn’t sail to Uist, and therefore, the shops are becoming scarce on daily food such as bread and milk. It’s expected that the wind will drop to a level that’s safe for ferries to sail throughout the day tomorrow.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] And finally tonight, we’ll take a look at the situation on the Isle of Skye with Eilidh MacLeod reporting.
[Eilidh MacLeod – Reporter] Like other areas, the weather affected services and facilities in Skye. Almost every school was closed, and the island’s bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles. The power went off for a while during the night and day in some areas due to lightning. Ferries weren’t sailing and boats had to take shelter. This one on the west side out out from Staffin pier, where there was a little shelter. Further north and the force of the wind was more obvious at sea and on land.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] That’s a small taste of what’s been happening across the country today and the bad weather means that matters have been difficult. Weather experts say that it will be wild until at least midnight tonight, therefore, make sure you stay safe.
[Iain MacAonghais – Preseantair] Feasgar math agus fàilte oirbh chun a’ phrògraim a-nochd. Tha an dàrna latha de dhroch shìde air buaidh a thoirt air cùisean air feadh na dùthcha. Bha còrr air deich thar fhichead mìle dachaigh às aonais cumhachd an dealain aig aon àm an-diugh air feadh na dùthcha, ged a chaidh an dealan a thilleadh gu cuid tron latha an-diugh. Ràinig neart na gaoithe còrr is ceithir fichead mìle san uair ann an diofar sgìrean, agus chaidh tuinn anns an robh àirde còrr is leth-cheud troigh a chlàradh far chosta siar na h-Alba. Tha dùil gum bi cùisean garbh gu co-dhiù meadhain-oidhche a-nochd. Tha an luchd-naidheachd againn air a bhith a’ toirt sùil air cùisean air feadh na dùthcha.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Uill, bha latha mì-chàilear dha-rìribh againn ann an seo ann an Leòdhas ged a tha sinn ann an rud beag de dh’fhasgadh an-dràsta agus sinn anns a’ Ghearraidh Chruaidh. Tha an droch shìde air buaidh a thoirt air cùisean an seo agus gu dearbha air tìr-mòr, gu h-àraidh air seirbheisean còmhdail mar a bha Seonaidh MacCoinnich a’ faighinn a-mach agus e ann an Loch Abar an-diugh.
[Seonaidh MacCoinnich – Neach-aithris] An seo ann am Malaig, cha robh an stoirm cho dona ‘s a bha an dùil, ach thug i buaidh fhathast air seirbheisean còmhdail agus foghlaim. Cha robh Àrd-sgoil Mhalaig fosgailte an-diugh agus cha robh seirbheisean rèile a’ ruith eadar an Gearastain agus Malaig. Cuideachd, cha robh am bàta-aiseag, An Loch Nibheis, a’ seòladh eadar Malaig agus na h-Eileanan beaga agus an Eilean Sgitheanach. Cuideachd, tha tòrr dealanaich agus tàirneanaich air a bhith air a’ chosta an iar an-diugh, agus còmhla ris a’ ghaoith thug sin buaidh air seirbheisean dealain sa sgìre. Aig dà uair feasgar, bha fhathast trì ceud neach gun dealan anns an sgìre eadar Ath Tharrachail agus Cille Chòmhainn.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Tha cùisean ann an Earra-Ghàidheal air a bhith a cheart cho riaslach an-diugh. Bha na h-aiseagan anns an sgìre air fad nan tàmh. Tha Andreas Wolff a-nis ag aithris.
[Andreas Wolff – Neach-aithris] Cha robh sìon a’ dol an seo anns an Òban an-diugh a thaobh nan aiseagan. Bha na seirbheisean uile dheth aig prìomh phort a’ chosta an iar. Is beag an t-iongnadh bha na tonnan nas motha an seo a-mach bho chladach Earra-Ghàidheil. Ann an Tiriodh, mar eisimpleir, bha a’ ghaoth a’ ruighinn ochdad mìle san uair aig cuid de dh’amannan . Bha na trèanaichean air loidhne rèile taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd cuideachd dheth. Fad an latha an-diugh, cha robh trèan a’ dol gu ruige an Òban, no gu dearbha, gu ruige a’ Ghearastan agus Malaig. Ach ann an seo fhèin anns an Òban, cha robh cùisean buileach cho dona, ged a bha SEPA a’ rabhadh foillseachadh mu thuiltean. A thaobh an latha a-màireach, tha na h-aiseagan co-dhiù uile le rabhadh orainds orra, cho fad ‘s chì mi.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Bha an sgioba againn fhìn ann an Steòrnabhagh trang an-diugh, is sinn air a bhith a-muigh ann an diofar sgìrean a’ cruinneachadh dhealbhan dhe na suailichean mòra a th’ air a bhith ann leis an droch shìde a tha seo. Bhruidhinn mi-fhèin ri aon eòlaiche a tha den bheachd gu bheil a’ mhuir cho dona an-dràsta is a chunnaic esan a-riamh.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Chan eil teagamh nach eil i air a bhith fiadhaich an seo ann an Leòdhas anns an dà latha mu dheireadh, ach ma tha aon rud cinnteach, ‘s e gu bheil muinntir nan Eilean Siar an ìre mhath cleachdte ris an seòrsa sìde seo. Bha sgoiltean agus seirbheisean eile dùinte an-diugh, ach do mhòran, chùm iad orra gu h-àbhaisteach. Aon rud a tha inntinneach ge-tà, ‘s e cho mòr ‘s a tha na suailichean air a bhith air a’ chosta an iar.
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] We’re seeing, at the moment, at the peak, of this storm, where these wave buoys are, we’re seeing wave heights in the order of seventeen meters, which is about fitfty, sixty feet. These are big waves.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Ach dè is coireach gu bheil a’ mhuir an-dràsta cho dona?
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] The low pressure system has developed over Greenland and the east coast of America, and has been tracking across the north Atlantic for several thousand kilometres, all the time the winds have been getting stronger, putting more energy into the sea, and therefore you’re getting bigger waves. As that wind passes through the UK and off, and starts to dissipate we’ll see the waves fall again, as the energy dissipates.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Tha Ruaraidh dhen bheachd ged a bha an gèile caran àbhaisteach, gu robh mar a làimhsich na h-ùghdarrasan na cùis freagarrach.
[Ruaraidh MacÌomhair – UHI] I think it’s a very appropriate response, you know, we’ll be expecting big waves, big winds, safety is paramount and we live in an island as you said earlier, we have low lying coasts, exposed roads, safety is important – we don’t want to lose anyone.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] A’ coimhead air adhairt chun a-màireach, tha dùil gum bi i fiadhaich, ach tha Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ag ràdh gum bi a’ mhòr chuid de na sgoiltean aca fosgailte. Bidh Sgoil Bhàgh a’ Chaisteil ann am Barraigh dùinte ge-tà agus tha a’ Chomhairle ag ràdh gu leig iad fios gu daoine ma dh’atharraicheas cùisean a thaobh sgoiltean eile. Dh’fhaodadh gum bi cuid de na h-aiseagan a’ falbh, ach ‘s e a’ chomhairle a th’ ann do luchd-siubhail fios a chur gu Calmac mus falbh iad.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Thèid sinn a-nis a dh’Uibhist far a bheil Shona NicDhòmhnaill ag aithris. Bha an dealan dheth an-diugh ann an sin greiseag, bha na sgoiltean dùinte agus tha cion aiseig a-nis a’ tòiseachadh air buaidh a thoirt air na bùithtean.
[Shona NicDhòmhnaill – Neach-aithris] Ràinig oiteag gaoithe trì-fichead ‘s a naoi-deug mìle san uair ann an Uibhist a Deas madainn an-diugh, agus chùm a’ ghaoth làidir sin a’ dol fad an latha. Còmhla ris an sin, thàinig na tuinn mhòra air an robh luchd-aithris a’ bruidhinn an-dè. Dh’fhàg sin sprùilleach agus feamainn air ròidean ann an Uibhist a Deas, agus cabhsairean Èirisgeidh agus Bhatarsaigh. Chaidh an dà chabhsair sin a dhùnadh airson greis dhen latha ach tha iad air fosgladh a-rithist. A bharrachd air iarraidh air daoine a bhith faiceallach a’ dol thairis nan cabhsairean eile ann an Uibhist, cha do chuir an droch aimsir bacadh sam bith orra.
[Shona NicDhòmhnaill – Neach-aithris] Bha ceud trì-fichead ‘s a deich dachaigh gun dealan airson mu uair a thìde tron oidhche a-raoir ann an Uibhist, agus an uair sin a-rithist, còmhla ris a’ chòrr de na h-Eileanan an Iar sa mhadainn an-diugh. Fhuair a’ chuid mhòr an dealan air ais ann an ceann beagan uairean a thìde, agus bha dùil gum biodh e air ais air aig a h-uile duine a-nochd fhathast. Bha a h-uile sgoil ann an Uibhist is Barraigh dùinte, còmhla ri ionadan spòrs is grunn àitichean eile, mar sin, cha robh na ròidean ach sàmhach. Cha deach brath sam bith a chur gu na poileis air milleadh no èiginn sam bith air feadh nan eileanan seo. Airson an dàrna latha, cha do sheòl aiseag a dh’Uibhist, agus mar sin, tha na bùithtean a’ fas gann de bhiadh làitheil mar aran agus bainne. Thathar an dùil gun tuit a’ ghaoth gu ìre a bhios sàbhailte do dh’aiseagan seòladh tron latha a-màireach.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Agus mu dheireadh a-nochd, bheir sinn sùil air cùisean anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus Eilidh NicLeòid ag aithris.
[Eilidh NicLeoid – Neach-aithris] Cleas sgìrean eile, thug an t-sìde buaidh air seirbheisean agus goireasan anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. Bha cha mhòr a h-uile sgoil dùinte, agus bha drochaid an Eilein dùinte do charbadan àirde. Chaidh an dealan dheth greiseag tron oidhche agus tron latha ann an cuid de dh’àitichean air sgàth dealanaich. Cha robh aiseagan a’ seòladh agus b’ fheudair do bhàtaichean fasgadh a ghabhail. Am fear seo air an taobh sear a-mach à cidhe Stafainn , far an robh rud beag a bharrachd fasgaidh ann. Nas fhaide tuath agus bha neart na gaoithe na b’ fhollaisiche aig muir agus air tìr.
[Catrìona NicIlleFhinnein – Neach-aithris] Sin agaibh ma-thà criomag bheag dhe na tha air a bhith a’ dol air feadh na dùthcha an-diugh agus an droch shìde a’ ciallachadh gu bheil cùisean air a bhith riaslach dha-rìribh. The eòlaichean sìde ag radh gum bi i fiadhaich gu co-dhiù meadhan-oidhche a-nochd, mar sin, feuch gum bi sibh sàbhailte.
[Ian MacInnes – Presenter] Good evening and welcome to tonight’s programme. The second day of bad weather has affected matters across the country. There were more than thirty thousand homes without power at one point today throughout the country, although the power was restored to many throughout the day. At its peak, the wind reached more than eighty miles per hour in different areas, and waves higher than fifty feet were recorded off the west coast of Scotland. High winds are expected until at least midnight tonight. Our reporters have been looking at situations throughout the country.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Well, it was an unpleasant day indeed here in Lewis although we have a little bit of shelter just now, in the Castle Grounds. The bad weather has had an effect on things here and on the mainland, especially on transport services as John MacKenzie found out in Lochaber today.
[John MacKenzie – Reporter] Here in Mallaig, the storm wasn’t as bad as expected, but it had an effect on transport services and education. Mallaig High School wasn’t open today and rail services weren’t running between Fort William and Mallaig. Also, the Loch Nevis ferry wasn’t sailing between Mallaig and the Small Isles and the Isle of Skye. Also, there has been a lot of lightning and thunder on the west coast today, and along with the wind, this affected the power services in the area. At two o’ clock in the afternoon, three hundred people were without power in the Acharacle and Kilchoan area.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] The situation in Argyll has been just as difficult today. All the ferries in the area were at rest. Andreas Wolff reports.
[Andreas Wolff – Reporter] There was nothing doing here in Oban today in terms of ferries. All the services from the main western port were cancelled. It’s little wonder as the biggest waves were off the Argyll coast. In Tiree, for example, the wind reached eighty miles per hour at times. Trains on the west highland rail line were also suspended. All day today, there were no trains going to Oban, or indeed, to Fort William and Mallaig. But here in Oban, the situation wasn’t quite as bad, though SEPA warned about floods In terms of tomorrow, the ferries are all on an orange warning, as far as I can see.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Our own team were busy in Stornoway today, out in various areas collecting pictures of the large swells due to this bad weather. I spoke to an expert who was of the opinion that he’d never seen the sea so fierce.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] There’s no question that it hasn’t been wild here in Lewis in the last two days, but if one thing is certain, it’s that the people of Western Isles are accustomed to this type of weather. The schools and other services were closed today, but for many, they continued as usual. One thing that’s interesting though, is how large the swells have been on the west coast.
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] We’re seeing, at the moment, at the peak, of this storm, where these wave buoys are, we’re seeing wave heights in the order of seventeen meters, which is about fitfty, sixty feet. These are big waves.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] And why is the sea so violent just now?
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] The low pressure system has developed over Greenland and the east coast of America, and has been tracking across the north Atlantic for several thousand kilometres, all the time the winds have been getting stronger, putting more energy into the sea, and therefore you’re getting bigger waves. As that wind passes through the UK and off, and starts to dissipate we’ll see the waves fall again, as the energy dissipates.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Roddy believes that although the gale was fairly normal, that the authorities dealt with it in the correct manner.
[Roddy MacIver - UHI] I think it’s a very appropriate response, you know, we’ll be expecting big waves, big winds, safety is paramount and we live in an island as you said earlier, we have low lying coasts, exposed roads, safety is important – we don’t want to lose anyone.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] Looking forward to tomorrow, it’s expected to be wild, but Western Isles Council say that most schools will be open. Castlebay School in Barra will be closed though, and the council say they will let people know if circumstances change with regards to other schools. Some of the ferries could sail, but it’s recommended that travellers get in touch with CalMac before they depart.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] We’ll now go to Uist where Shona MacDonald reports. The power was off today for a while, and the schools were closed and the shortage of ferries is now affecting the shops.
[Shona MacDonald – Reporter] A gust of wind reached seventy-nine miles per hour in South Uist this morning, and the strong wind continued throughout the day. Along with that, large waves appeared that reporters spoke of yesterday. That left debris and seaweed on the roads of South Uist, and Eriskay and Vatersay causeways. Both causeways were closed for part of the day but they were opened again. Other than asking people to take care when crossing the other causeways in Uist, the bad weather didn’t hold them back at all.
[Shona MacDonald – Reporter] There were one hundred and seventy homes without power for around an hour throughout the night last night in Uist, and then again this morning along with the rest of the Western Isles. Most got their power back within a few hours, and it was expected that everyone would have it back by tonight. Every school in Uist and Barra was closed, along with sports centre and various other places, therefore, the roads were quiet. The police didn’t receive any reports of damage or emergency across these islands. For the second day, ferries didn’t sail to Uist, and therefore, the shops are becoming scarce on daily food such as bread and milk. It’s expected that the wind will drop to a level that’s safe for ferries to sail throughout the day tomorrow.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] And finally tonight, we’ll take a look at the situation on the Isle of Skye with Eilidh MacLeod reporting.
[Eilidh MacLeod – Reporter] Like other areas, the weather affected services and facilities in Skye. Almost every school was closed, and the island’s bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles. The power went off for a while during the night and day in some areas due to lightning. Ferries weren’t sailing and boats had to take shelter. This one on the west side out out from Staffin pier, where there was a little shelter. Further north and the force of the wind was more obvious at sea and on land.
[Catriona MacLennan – Reporter] That’s a small taste of what’s been happening across the country today and the bad weather means that matters have been difficult. Weather experts say that it will be wild until at least midnight tonight, therefore, make sure you stay safe.