Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) moved to "Yellow Alert" preparedness status in the north of Scotland on 8 December 2025, ahead of the arrival of Storm Bram1. The network operator said the highest wind gusts are forecast to hit the Western Isles, West and Northwest Highlands and Skye from Tuesday afternoon through to Wednesday morning1.
Storm Bram was named by the Irish Met Office, SSEN said, and is forecast to run from Tuesday afternoon through to Wednesday morning1. Forecasts currently indicate storm-force winds across the Western Isles, West and Northwest Highlands and Skye, with strong winds expected elsewhere in the region, and heavy rain is also forecast1. The Met Office has issued its own Amber and Yellow Warnings for Tuesday and Wednesday1.
SSEN said the heightened alert level reflects the strong likelihood that the storm-force winds will affect customers' power supplies, and that it has been increasing its level of preparedness over recent days1. Moving to the status means the company has activated its contingency plans, with teams in strategic locations ready to respond to network damage and faults that may interrupt supply1.
"Ahead of the arrival of Storm Bram, we've moved to 'Yellow Alert' preparedness status in the north of Scotland."
The company said its specialist Priority Services team is in the process of contacting customers already registered for free support during a power cut, and that it has contacted nearly 180,000 customers in the areas most likely to be affected to offer advice and check on their welfare ahead of the storm's arrival1. SSEN said it will continue to monitor the weather closely and will issue further updates depending on the forecast1.
Customers are eligible for Priority Services if they are deaf or hard of hearing, have a disability, live with children under five, are blind or partially-sighted, have a chronic illness, use medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity, or are over 601. SSEN gave the Priority Services number as 0800 294 32591.
| SSEN contact | Number or route |
|---|---|
| Emergency power cut number | 105 |
| Priority Services | 0800 294 3259 |
| Power cuts and restoration times | Power Track website |
Why it matters for households
A Yellow Alert status is a statement about the network's own readiness, not a guarantee that supply will hold. SSEN said the alert level reflects the strong likelihood that storm-force winds will affect customers' power supplies1. For a household in the Western Isles, West and Northwest Highlands or Skye, that means the period from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning carries a raised chance of an unplanned outage, with heavy rain adding to the conditions1.
The practical consequences turn on how a home copes without mains electricity. Households that depend on electricity for medical equipment, or that include people over 60, disabled people, or children under five, are the groups SSEN treats as needing extra help, and the company said it is contacting those already registered1. Registration is what puts a household on that list; SSEN describes the support as free1.
For energy independence in the home, the alert is a reminder of where resilience actually sits. A registered priority customer gets proactive contact and welfare checks; a household with its own backup power arrangements is less exposed to the timing of restoration. SSEN directs customers to its Power Track map for details of power cuts and restoration times, and to report loss of supply or network damage1. Damage to network equipment should not be touched and should be reported on 105 or through Power Track, with engineers to investigate as soon as possible1.
What happens next
SSEN said it will continue to monitor the weather closely and will issue further updates depending on the forecast1. The Met Office Amber and Yellow Warnings cover Tuesday and Wednesday1. The storm is forecast to run from Tuesday afternoon through to Wednesday morning1. No further alert level changes have been reported.