STRONG winds from Hurricane Ernesto have caused major cancellations of CalMac ferries across the west of Scotland.
The ferry company has issued warnings for 29 of its 31 routes across the Scottish Islands as strong winds reaching 51mph are forecast throughout the afternoon and this evening.
There have been cancellations to key ports, including Ullapool and Stornoway, as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the north west of the country.
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The weather warning predicts the islands and part of the mainland will see an evening of strong winds and heavy rain as flooding in some areas is expected.
There is also a warning of power cuts and the closure of other public services like buses and trains in the affected areas.
CalMac has reassured customers who are looking to travel with their ferries that regular updates to their services will be posted on their social media and on their website.
Currently, the majority of their services have been cancelled amid the stormy weather with the transport firm saying they will have an update on their timetabled services for Thursday at 7:30am tomorrow.
A spokesperson for the company told the Ross-Shire Journal that the decision to cancel services has not been made lightly and that the safety of passengers and their crew is of the utmost importance to them.
They said: “Disrupting a sailing is a decision we do not take lightly because we know it will inconvenience our customers and the communities we serve.
“However, the safety of our customers and crew must come first. In this instance, the master of the vessel has judged it is necessary in response to the assessment of adverse weather conditions.
“We’ll keep customers informed should there be any further changes in connection to this route. If you’ve not already done so, download our app or follow our Twitter @CalMac_Updates so we can provide you with timely updates, with the latest information we have available.
“Alternatively, you can also sign up to our service status text updates.”
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