Storm Eowyn warning upgraded to amber for Friday across Scotland

Met Office forecasters said wind speeds could reach between 80-90mph in some coastal and hilly areas.

A separate yellow warning is in place from 00:00 to 15:00 on Saturday, covering all of Scotland. It forecasts up to 60mph winds inland, with up to 70mph near the coast.

The Northern Isles could experience gusts of up to 80mph during that period.

Forecasters said road, rail, air and ferry services were likely to be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible.

They said some roads and bridges may also be closed.

Unsettled conditions are expected to start across the UK on Thursday evening before the first weather warning begins at 06:00 on Friday.

A further area of low pressure could bring more wet and very windy weather across the country by Sunday.

There is the potential for further weather warnings over the weekend and throughout next week, the Met Office added.

Spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said: “Storm Eowyn will bring a period of very unsettled, potentially disruptive, weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday.

“Pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, the system will begin to influence the UK’s weather on Friday, with strengthening winds initially in north-western parts of the UK with accompanying heavy rainfall.”

Eowyn is the fifth named storm of the 2024-25 season, which began in October last year.