SSEN Distribution moved to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland on 29 January 2024 ahead of very strong winds forecast for Wednesday 31 January1. The following day it upgraded that position, stating it was "moving to its Yellow Alert operational status for the north of Scotland" and describing this as an upgrade to its warning level that reflected the expected impact on the electricity network2.
The two announcements carried different wind forecasts. On 29 January, SSEN said the Western Isles, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland and parts of the mainland West Coast could see gusts of up to 70mph, with 80mph gusts possible on coasts and exposed areas, and winds of 60-65mph expected in Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeen and on the Moray coast1. On 30 January it widened the area to include Skye, Sutherland, Moray and Aberdeenshire, with winds of 65-75mph and gusts of up to 85mph at times, and winds of up to 55mph across the wider north of Scotland network area2. It said the winds would be accompanied by heavy rain, particularly in the west, and that while winds would ease later on Wednesday in mainland Scotland, it would remain stormy on the Northern Isles overnight and into Thursday2.
"We have already activated our well-rehearsed severe weather plans, bringing in extra teams to deal with any network faults and damage these high winds may cause."
SSEN said it was bringing in extra teams, relocating teams to areas expected to be affected and increasing the number of people available to take customers' calls and queries1. On 30 January it said text messages offering advice and support were being sent to almost 150,000 customers signed up to its Priority Service Register, with the most vulnerable customers who cannot receive text messages being telephoned2. It said all its priority services are free1.
| Date | Status | Forecast winds |
|---|---|---|
| 29 January | Weather Warning | Gusts up to 70mph, 80mph on coasts and exposed areas; 60-65mph in Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeen and the Moray coast1 |
| 30 January | Yellow Alert | 65-75mph with gusts up to 85mph at times; up to 55mph across the wider network area2 |
SSEN listed eligibility for its Priority Services Register as: being deaf or hard of hearing; having a disability; living with children under five; being blind or partially sighted; having a chronic illness; using medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity; or being over 601. It gave the register enquiry number as 0800 294 3259 and the emergency power cut number as 1051. The Met Office issued its own weather warnings for the same period, SSEN said2.
Why it matters for households
A network operator moving to an elevated operational status is a signal that supply interruptions are considered possible rather than merely theoretical. For a household, the practical exposure is the same whichever label applies: if the overhead network in an exposed area is damaged, power can be lost for a period that the operator cannot state in advance. SSEN directs customers to its Power Track map for details of power cuts and restoration times, and says damage to its equipment should be reported on 105 rather than approached1.
The register matters most where a home depends on electricity for medical equipment or aids, or where occupants would struggle to act on a warning. SSEN says registration allows it to direct advice and support to those households, and that the service carries no charge1. For homes outside the priority categories, the effect of a storm warning is mainly on how long a supply interruption might last and how quickly information reaches the household. SSEN's own guidance covers preparing for a power cut, and the same network area is covered in the site's national supply pages.
What happens next
SSEN said it would continue to watch the period of severe weather closely as it developed and would issue further updates depending on the forecast1. Winds were expected to ease later on Wednesday in mainland Scotland, while the Northern Isles were expected to remain stormy overnight and into Thursday2. No further status changes have been reported.