Rail and ferry services ground to a halt and hundreds of residents were left without power as heavy rain and high winds caused a wave of disruption across the north and Moray.
Around 900 properties across the north of Scotland were left in the dark as residents in the islands, Lochaber and Badenoch and Strathspey experienced a power outage.
Engineers from the Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) worked tirelessly throughout the day to restore the supply “safely and as quickly as possible”.
Residents in the township of Kylerhea remained cut off last night after 120 metres of road was left covered in mud following a landslip; just two miles from the A87 Invergarry to Uig trunk road.
On the Isle of Raasay, the ‘bottom’ road near the communities Outdoor Centre was also closed last night due to a 30m parapet wall collapsing onto the road.
Schools were also badly affected with 1,041 secondary students and 139 primary pupils on the west coast missed a day of teaching.
VIDEO: Footage shows rough conditions out at sea as heavy rain and strong wind batter the region
Secondary and primary schools in Gairloch, Plockton and Kyle were closed along with three nurseries due to bad weather and loss of power, heating and water supplies.
Students at Plockton High were then sent home early as the academy suffered a power outage.
The day of disruption came as Met Office forecasters issued a yellow weather warning for ice and rain across the Highlands and Moray.
The warnings will remain in place until 10am this morning, with commuters urged to expect further delays to vital transport links tomorrow due to icy patches on roads and wintry showers.
A series of flood alerts have also been issued by SEPA, with the Western Isles, Skyle and Lochalsh, Wester Ross Easter Ross, Moray and Argyll and Bute all due heavy rain showers.
Severe flooding on the West Highland Line yesterday left rail passengers facing delays as services from Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig were cancelled.
All services were terminated at Crainlarich due to rising flood waters between Arrochar, Tarbert and Crainlarich, leaving passengers facing a two-hour bus ride to Mallaig and a one hour journey to Oban aboard Scotrail’s replacement bus service.
Engineers from Network Rail were sent to the scene with special pumping equipment to help manage water levels.
Meanwhile, NorthLink Ferries’ cargo and passenger services between the mainland and Shetland were cancelled for a second day due to stormy weather.
Multiple Calmac ferry crossings were also called-off or subject to disruption as a result of ‘gusting winds and difficult conditions at sea’ with all passengers urged to allow extra time for their journeys.
Crossings from Oban calling at Castlebay, Coll and Tiree were cancelled, as were services to Mallaig and Lochboisdale.
Crossing in the Western Isles were also subject to cancellations including the Barra to Eriskay service and Leverburgh and Berneray sailing.
CalMac’s director of operations Robert Morrison said: ‘There is currently a Met Office yellow weather warning across all our area of operations.
‘This is causing problems for the travelling public across all transport infrastructure.
“Specifically for ferries, gusting winds and difficult sea conditions have resulted in extensive disruption to services.”
