Scotland to be battered by 80mph winds as severe weather to return Severe weather warnings have been issued as Scotland is expected to be battered by winds of up to 80mph and snow in parts at the beginning of Christmas week. The Met Office has issued a Yellow weather warning for wind and it is expected Monday will bring storm force winds and heavy rain. Forecasters have said there is also a chance of snow in the Highlands and temperatures will drop low enough to create frost and icy conditions with disruption expected. There is a chance restrictions will be put in place on some of the main bridges as a result of the strong gusts. Disruptions to ferry sailings are also likely and the wind may cause some small-scale structural damage. Some areas of the country have also been warned the weather could cause disruption to power supplies. Hundreds of homes in the Western Isles were without electricity on Saturday after bolts of lightning hit power cables across the islands. Around 300 households were affected with much of Harris and the west side of North Uist suffering a blackout. On Lewis, power was off in rural areas including the Balallan and Carloway districts. Meanwhile, on the busiest Winter's weekend for travel, numerous ferry services for the Western Isles have been cancelled due to very rough seas whipped by 55 mph gusts. Hundreds of islanders, including students at city universities, are on their way home for the festive holidays. Others headed to the mainland for Christmas shopping but are stranded until the weather improves. Ferries for Barra, South Uist, North Uist and Harris were cancelled and there is a risk that the heavily booked ferry for Lewis may not run tonight. The Met Office forecasts winds gales up to severe gale force nine with spells of thunder and lightning for the Western Isles which comes in advance of a new storm set to hit the whole of Scotland from Monday. STV's weather forecaster said: "A changeable weather pattern will become established across all areas overnight with clear spells and showers. The showers will be heavy in places and the air will turn colder as the night progresses so they'll turn increasingly wintry on the hills. Despite the brisk southwesterly wind temperatures will dip enough to give a frost and some icy patches. On Sunday the showers will become heavy in places and they'll turn wintry to increasingly lower levels. Some accumulations of snow are likely over the high ground. It will feel chilly everywhere given the strong to gale force west to southwesterly wind, with temperatures only reaching 7C. The weather's set to go rapidly downhill on Monday with another vigorous area of low pressure will swing in from off the Atlantic spreading increasingly wet and windy weather across the region. Severe gales are likely, especially near to the west coast and over the hills where 70 to 80mph gusts are possible later and overnight into Christmas Eve. Much brighter conditions will follow during Christmas Eve itself, although there'll still be plenty of showers packing in on gale force winds, and it will feel chilly again.