Weather update as emergency co-ordinating group meet again . . .

After a night of storm force winds, and with high winds continuing to affect Orkney today, the local Emergency Co-ordinating Group (OLECG) met for a second time this morning to assess the impact on the county.

A Met Office yellow warning remains in place for the Northern Isles, with gales or severe gales forecast to persist across the area until evening.

• The main road through St Mary’s, in Holm, is closed due to flooding caused by a combination of strong winds, a high tide and the residual effects of a storm surge. The roads at Graemeshall and Scapa are also closed due to flooding.
• The Churchill Barriers are closed and likely to remain closed until later this afternoon but regular assessments are being undertaken.
• The A961 Kirkwall to Holm Road is closed between the Heathery Loan and Moss Road due to flying debris.
• Flooding is affecting the B9043 in South Ronaldsay in three places, at Newhouse, the corner before Roeberry and at Roeberry.
• Public bus services in Orkney are running again, except on the route from Kirkwall to St Margaret’s Hope.
• All Orkney Ferries services are currently cancelled, with a review of North Isles routes to be carried out this afternoon.

Inspector Gordon Deans, of Northern Constabulary, who chaired the OLECG meeting, said: “We’re asking the public to remain aware of the need to take extra care and of the potential for disruption, particularly to travel.

“We’d advise people in low-lying areas exposed to seas from the west to remain vigilant. These remain areas of concern because of higher than normal sea conditions as the wind forces the sea into bays.

“But we hope the flood risk will start to diminish as the winds start to drop, the next high tide at around midnight will be slightly lower than the last, and with the storm surge continuing to dissipate.”