UK weather: Storm Abigail brings 90mph wind warnings

Winds of up to 90 miles per hour are expected to hit some areas in Scotland today as Storm Abigail hits the UK.

The first storm to be officially named by the Met Office, Abigail has already caused power outages to thousands of homes.

Most power supplies have been restored, but nearly 60 schools will be closed today north of the border. Some areas are even expecting snow.

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Strong winds and heavy rain is also expected across Wales and the north of England, with warnings that surface water and gusts could cause rush-hour delays.

Derek Mackay, transport minister for the Scottish Government, has advised people to plan their journeys in advance and prepare for disruption.

"Key utilities like power and telecoms can also be impacted by the kinds of conditions forecast and people should try to ensure that they are prepared for possible disruption – this includes checking on the elderly and vulnerable," he said. "Before heading out, I would urge people to consider the conditions."

If Abigail wasn't bad enough, the remnants of Hurricane Kate are apparently on their way. According to the Weather Network, Hurricane Kate has been downgraded to an Extra-Tropical Storm and is "racing across the pond to affect the UK weather by the weekend". Saturday looks like it will be a "washout" with strong winds in central and southern parts of the UK.

As part of the Met Office's pilot scheme to raise awareness of dangerous weather, the next storms to come to the UK will be given the names Barney, Clodagh and Desmond. However, ex-hurricane Kate will not be renamed by the Met Office because it has already been named by the National Hurricane Centre.