Storm Abigail closes dozens of schools in Scotland as 84mph winds batter Britain

More than half of the ferry routes in the affected areas have also been cancelled

Satellite image of Storm Abigail over the UK (Universal News And Sport (Europe))

Every school in Scotland's Western Isles and Shetland has been closed after Storm Abigail hit the UK with winds of up to 84 mph.

Fears of power cuts prompted authorities to close every primary and secondary school in the far north of Scotland after strong gusts swept the area overnight, the Met Office has said.

The strongest recorded gust was 84 mph, with winds at speeds of 81 mph still being experienced in the Shetland area, the weather forecaster told The Independent.

"This was a precautionary measure because of the potential aftermath of the wind on schools having power cuts," a spokesman said.

Heavy rainfall and high waves also accompanied the storm. The wind is now expected to ease off, added the spokesman, but temperatures have dropped to 3 or 4 degree in northern Scotland as the storm banished the milder weather.

A total of 60 primary and secondary schools will be closed to pupils on Friday, the BBC has reported.

Ferries have also been disrupted with more than half of the services on 25 routes along the Clyde and Bebrides network being cancelled, according to thte BBC.

It comes after the Met Office issued a National Severe Weather Warning for strong winds across north Scotland earlier in the week.

Paul Gunderson, chief operational meteorologist, said in a statement to expect "wind gusts reaching 70 to 80 mph widely across the warning area with gusts of 90mph in exposed locations.

"There is the potential for disruption to transport, including ferries and power supplies.

"The strong winds combined with high tides are likly to cause overtopping of coasts and causeways leading to additional hazards."

Storm Abigail is the first storm which, in US hurricane-style, has been named by the Met Office in a pilot project.

The public have been asked to choose names beginning A to Z for storms with potential impacts on the UK.

A deep low pressure system moving across the Atlantic is responsible for the strong winds, according to the Met Office.