Storm Gerrit Disrupts Travel Across Scotland, Leaving Thousands Without Power
The A9 has been fully reopened following hours of closure caused by the heavy snowfall of Storm Gerrit, which left drivers trapped on the Scottish Highlands road. Police Scotland confirmed that snowploughs had successfully cleared the route, which had been shut down in Drumtocher, but advised motorists to travel with caution and only if necessary.
The snowstorm brought severe disruptions across Scotland, including transport chaos and power outages. Police had previously instructed stranded motorists to stay inside their vehicles and await updates via social media or local radio. Rory Stuart, who was stuck for over six hours in low visibility near Dalwhinnie, shared his experience of the worsening weather and the long wait until being turned around.
In addition to road closures, ScotRail cancelled all services operating north of Dundee and Perth, and flooding in areas like Cupar, Fife, made travel impossible. Train services were suspended after a tree struck a train, damaging its front and narrowly missing the driver, who was unharmed. Meanwhile, some 27,000 homes lost power, with recovery efforts ongoing by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).
Severe weather warnings remain in effect, with rain, snow, and high winds continuing to affect the region. As of Wednesday evening, around 18,500 households remained without power, with SSEN warning some may not have electricity restored until Friday. In response, welfare vans have been deployed to affected areas, offering hot meals to those in need.
Officials have urged people to check travel updates regularly and exercise extreme caution, as the storm continues to disrupt both road and rail transport.
