Getty ImagesGusts of up to 90mph could cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings when Storm Eowyn barrels into Scotland.
An amber weather warning for wind is in place for southern and most of central Scotland between 6am and 9pm on Friday.
The warning covers Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, the Highlands, Tayside, Strathclyde, the Scottish Borders and parts of the Lothians.
Additional yellow warnings for snow and wind have also been issued, the first of which comes into force at midnight on Friday.
Storm Eowyn is the fifth named storm of the season after Storm Darragh brought strong winds and snow to parts of the UK in December.
It is named after a character in the Lord of the Rings series by JRR Tolkien.
The windy conditions are likely to cause disruption to road, rail, air and ferry travel, potentially leading to longer journey times, bridge restrictions and the cancellation of services.
Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Met Office warnings show high winds will impact all of the country, so it’s vital people plan ahead if they have to travel, particularly in the areas in south and central Scotland covered by the amber warning.
“The conditions will bring challenges for drivers, so you should check the Traffic Scotland website before setting off – it offers the latest information on the trunk road network and also has details of ‘wind based’ closures for the bridges. The Traffic Scotland X page is also updated regularly.
“The high winds are likely to impact other modes of transport, so if you are planning to travel by train, ferry or air, please check with your operator to see if your service has been affected.”
The change to conditions is being caused by a powerful jet stream pushing low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the UK, following a recent cold spell over North America.
Chief superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “The amber warning for high winds means that there is a strong likelihood of disruption on the road network and as such, motorists are advised to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible.
“Please do not ignore any road signage advising of changes to speed or closures to routes. These are in place for your safety and the safety of other road users, and listen out for media broadcasts about the weather and how it may be impacting travel.
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