The highest wind speeds are forecast for the Western Isles, Skye, the north west coast and Northern Isles, with gusts expected of 80-90 mph.

Wintry showers and ice have also been forecast for large parts of Scotland.

An amber alert has now been issued for the Northern Isles and part of north Caithness on Boxing Day.

The Met Office has named it Storm Conor and is forecasting winds gusting to 70-80mph - possibly reaching 90mph in some areas.

It also has an amber "be prepared" warning for Storm Barbara and yellow "be aware" warnings in place for high winds at the weekend and Monday and wintry showers and ice for large parts of Scotland on Friday into Saturday.

A wind gust of 91.5mph was recorded at Scalpay Bridge in the Western Isles at about 16:00 on Friday, according to the Western Isles` local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Earlier on Friday, wind speeds were recorded gusting to 74mph on South Uist, 67mph in Stornoway on Lewis and 66mph on Fair Isle in Shetland, the Met Office said.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has urged people to check weather forecasts and travel information before setting out on journeys over the next few days.

He added: "We shall be continuing to monitor the situation over the festive period including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day to make sure that the most reliable and relevant information is being communicated to people as early as possible."

Weather has been causing some disruption across Scotland.

Almost 120 school sites involving a total of more than 8,500 pupils, were shut in the Highlands on Friday and ferries to the Northern and Western Isles were cancelled.

Some train services were also been affected, and all bus services on the Western Isles were cancelled.

Stornoway airport was closed by the bad weather at about 18:00 on Friday.

Two planes tried and failed to land, before returing to Inverness and Aberdeen.

Power cuts have been affecting properties in parts of Lewis and South Uist in the Western Isles, around Knockando in Moray and Assynt and near Loch Broom in the Highlands.

Engineers from electricity company SSE have been working to restore power.

Power has been restored to thousands of homes and businesses on Lewis and Harris by using an emergency power station at Battery Point on Lewis.

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