http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30726678

Storm causes Scottish rail service cancellation

All rail services in Scotland have been suspended as hurricane-force winds battered the country.

About 70,000 homes have been left without power in the Highlands and Islands as the Atlantic jet stream caused gusts of more 100mph (160km/h).

A Met Office amber warning is in place in the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and parts of Aberdeenshire, central and south east Scotland.

The Forth Road Bridge is closed to traffic after a van overturned.

Rail operator ScotRail said all of its services had been suspended until further notice due to safety concerns.

Network Rail, which is responsible for the rail infrastructure, is inspecting lines for damage caused by winds and high tides.

All routes will remain suspended until the lines are checked for passengers to travel.A ScotRail spokesman said the extreme weather had deteriorated further overnight, and added: "For safety reasons it will be necessary for Network Rail to inspect rail lines across the network for damage this morning before allowing passengers to travel on routes."

Officials said a van had overturned on the northbound carriageway of the Forth Road Bridge as the wind reached 91mph. The bridge will remain closed in both directions until it can be removed.

The Forth Road Bridge tweeted: "We will remove overturned van as soon as safe to do so, however forecast suggests it will be mid-morning before wind drops sufficiently."

The Skye and Kessock bridges are also closed.

BBC News correspondent Colin Blane said police and fire services were dealing with many incidents of fallen trees.

Flood warnings

The Met Office amber "be prepared" warning forecasts high winds and heavy rain for the next few days and icy conditions on Sunday.

A yellow "be aware" warning, predicting gusts of between 60mph and 70mph, covers the rest of Scotland on Friday.

BBC Weather said gusts in the Highlands reached 113mph in Stornoway, 110mph at Loch Glascarnoch, and 97mph at Altnaharra. Speeds of 61mph have been recorded overnight at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

The yellow warning is also in place for northern coastal areas of Northern Ireland and parts of northern England, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire.

Cumbria Police said strong winds had blown over a lorry between junctions 38 and 39 on the northbound carriageway of the M6 motorway.

The Met Office's chief forecaster said a depression had been developing over the Atlantic in association with a very strong jet stream. It is said to have been triggered by sub-zero temperatures in the US hitting warmer air.

Flood warnings and alerts have been issued in Scotland and parts of England and Wales.

Power companies have already put extra staff on standby and the police have been warning commuters to check before they travel on Friday morning.

Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said it has mobilised 1,000 people in preparation for the storms.

Some ferry services in Scotland have already been cancelled.

Scotrail said several train services were not expected to run on until late on Friday.

Network Rail said lines would need to be checked for damage before they were allowed to reopen.

All schools on Orkney and the Western Isles have been closed on Friday, with 20 schools and nurseries in the Highland Council area also closed because of the weather.

The Dounreay nuclear complex on the far north Caithness coast will be closed to all but essential staff on Friday and Saturday, the site's operator has said.