Scotland braced for a battering from Storm Eleanor

2 January 2018, 17:16 | Updated: 2 January 2018, 17:17

Gusts of up to 80mph could hit coastal areas as Storm Eleanor sweeps into southern Scotland.

The storm is now expected to affect only southern parts of the country, with severe weather warnings in place from Tuesday evening and through most of Wednesday.

Forecasters said a combination of high tides and strong winds will make large waves and spray likely in some western areas on the coast.

They warned of a chance of injury and danger to life from waves and beach material that is thrown about, while power cuts and transport disruption is possible.

The Met Office has issued yellow "be aware" warnings of high winds for south west Scotland, Lothian and Borders and the very southern reaches of Strathclyde.

Gales with gusts of 60mph to 70mph are likely while some western coastal areas have a chance of seeing gusts of up to 80mph.

Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife are no longer included in the warning area after forecasters brought the northern boundary southwards.

The latest warnings come days after the country was hit by Storm Dylan.

Met Office spokeswoman Emma Sharples said: "Exposed coasts within the warning area could see 60-70mph gusts while they could be close to 80mph in isolated and very exposed areas.

"We will see winds easing down as we go through the day tomorrow but there will still be some quite gusty winds."

Forecasters said the unsettled theme continues throughout this week, with further spells of rain moving across the UK from the west on Tuesday and some snow over high ground in Scotland.

Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said: "Storm Eleanor will bring a very windy spell to the UK on Tuesday night and Wednesday, with gales or severe gales in places.

"National severe weather warnings have been issued as there is the potential for some travel disruption, and high waves throwing beach material onto sea fronts, roads and coastal properties, along western and southern coasts."

The warnings are valid from 6pm on Tuesday and have been combined with warnings previously in force for Wednesday to run until 6pm on January 3.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued a flood alert for Dumfries and Galloway.

Sepa said high tides combined with a large storm surge are expected throughout the region late on Tuesday into Wednesday, and warned that coastal communities and roads may experience flooding during times at and around high tide at midnight on Tuesday and midday on Wednesday.

Twelve flood warnings are in place across southern Scotland while one is in force in Fife and one in Central Scotland.

Sepa has also issued flood alerts for coastlines in northern Scotland.