With Storm Caroline expected to batter parts of Britain with gales up to 80mph workers were evacuated from a North Sea oil rig.
Almost half (69) of the 159 people working on CNR International's Ninian South platform, about 240 miles off the coast of Aberdeen, were brought ashore.
Winds are set to strengthen across parts of Britain over the course of the next few days and conditions will start to turn wet and blustery, especially across the north and north-west of the country.
A yellow "be aware" weather warning was put in place for northern Scotland, running from 8am on Thursday until just before midnight.
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: "Wednesday will see the last of the mild days, with temperatures in double figures, between 10C and 12C. Overnight, the main feature will be the increase in wind as Caroline starts to come in towards the end of the night.
"At the moment we have a yellow weather warning in place, but it could be upgraded to amber."
Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, while a loss of power in some areas is also possible. Coastal routes, seafronts and coastal communities are likely to be affected by spray or large waves.
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
-
1/40 6 December 2017
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) greets Nigeria's ambassador to the United Kingdom, George Adesola Oguntade (C), and his wife, Modupe Oguntade, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in central London
AFP/Getty
-
2/40 5 December 2017
800 abandoned buckets appear at Potters Field Park, London, in a moving tribute to the 800 children who die every day, on average, due to a lack of clean water and sanitation. Just one bucket in the installation, part of WaterAid’s #Untapped appeal, could hold almost enough safe drinking water for one child for a week. Every £1 donated to the #Untapped appeal until 31st January 2018 will be matched by the UK Government.
WaterAid / Ollie Dixon
-
3/40 4 December 2017
British Prime Minister Theresa May smiles to European Union President Donald Tusk as she attends Brexit negotiations' meetings
AFP/Getty
-
4/40 3 December 2017
The last Supermoon of 2017 sets over Whitley Bay, Northumberland
PA
-
5/40 2 December 2017
The crowd reacts as England's Dawid Malan fails to stop a boundary during the first day of the second Ashes test match
REUTERS
-
6/40 1 December 2017
England manager, Gareth Southgate, jokes with Belgium manager, Roberto Martinez, after their sides were drawn in the same group during the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia
Getty Images
-
7/40 30 November 2017
A supporter of Lauri Love, who is accused of hacking into U.S. government computers, wears a Donald Trump mask as he protests in front of the Royal Courts of Justice in London
AP
-
8/40 29 November 2017
A sign reading 'We want our future back' is displayed in front of Westminster during an Anti-Brexit Demonstration
Rex Features
-
9/40 28 November 2017
This year's innovative V&A Christmas Tree, The Singing Tree, is shaped from a cloud of floating words, contributed by visitors, and is created by leading stage and performance designer Es Devlin.
Rex Features
-
10/40 27 November 2017
David Jones and Margaret Tyler wait outside Kensington Palace after hearing about the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Rex
-
11/40 26 November 2017
Sailors from the Royal Navy perform the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace for the first time in its 357-year history
PA
-
12/40 25 November 2017
Arlene Foster gives her leader's speech during the annual DUP party conference at La Mon House
Getty Images
-
13/40 24 November 2017
Ex-England footballer Michael Owen prior to riding in a charity race at Ascot racecourse
Rex
-
14/40 23 November 2017
Shoppers pass a promotional sign for 'Black Friday' sales discounts on Oxford Street
AFP/Getty
-
15/40 22 November 2017
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street
EPA
-
16/40 21 November 2017
Protestors hold up a banner during a protest held in solidarity with the University of London cleaners' strike
Petros Elia
-
17/40 20 November 2017
British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo outside number 10 Downing Street
Getty
-
18/40 19 November 2017
Grigor Dimitrov reacts to winning the Men's Singles Final with the trophy, during day eight of the NITTO ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London
PA
-
19/40 18 November 2017
Central Scotland MSP Richard Leonard is congratulated by Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar at the Glasgow Science Centre after he was announced as the new leader of Scottish Labour
Jane Barlow/PA
-
20/40 17 November 2017
British Military Working Dog Mali poses for a photograph with his handler, Cpl. Daniel Hatley, after receiving the PDSA Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his heroic action in Afghanistan
Reuters
-
21/40 16 November 2017
Theresa May chats with resident Val Lay during a visit to a housing estate in London
AFP/Getty
-
22/40 15 November 2017
Richard Radcliffe leaves the Foreign Office with his local MP Tulip Siddiq, following a meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
Marc Ward/REX
-
23/40 14 November 2017
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah after being awarded a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II
PA
-
24/40 13 November 2017
Restoration work continues on the Palace of Westminster
Photographs by Reuters/Getty/iStock
-
25/40 12 November 2017
A veteran takes his hat off during the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph wreathe laying ceremony
REUTERS
-
26/40 11 November 2017
Members of the Western Front Association during a service at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice Day
EPA
-
27/40 10 November 2017
David Davis and Michel Barnier
REUTERS
-
28/40 9 November 2017
Britain's newly appointed Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, leaves Downing Street
AP
-
29/40 8 November 2017
Priti Patel leaves number 10 Downing street through the back entrance
EPA
-
30/40 7 November 2017
School children and their teacher from Thomas Tallis School look at pictures on display at the Red Star Over Russia exhibition at the Tate Modern in London
Philip Toscano/PA
-
31/40 6 November 2017
A cast of The Wrestlers, two men taking part in the Greek sport pankration, is lowered into place at Natural Trust's Stowe Landscape Garden near Buckingham
PA
-
32/40 5 November 2017
Protesters in Trafalgar Square, London, during the Million Mask March bonfire night protest
PA
-
33/40 4 November 2017
Protestors take part in the 'Justice Now: Make it Right for Palestine' march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in central London
PA
-
34/40 3 November 2017
People queue outside an Apple store in London to purchase the new iPhone X upon its release in the U.K. The iPhone X is positioned as a high-end, model intended to showcase advanced technologies such as wireless charging, OLED display, dual cameras and a face recognition unlock system
Getty
-
35/40 2 November 2017
British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside 10 Downing Street in London. The pair are today celebrating the centenary of a British declaration that ultimately led to the foundation of the state of Israel
Getty
-
36/40 1 November 2017
Mammatus clouds over St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Northumberland
Owen Humphreys/PA
-
37/40 31 October 2017
Women protest outside Downing Street as they join a demonstration demanding rights for working mothers
Getty Images
-
38/40 30 October 2017
England's under 17's pose with the World Cup trophy as they arrive back to the UK
PA
-
39/40 29 October 2017
Leicester City remembrance day fixture between between Leicester City and Everton at King Power Stadium
Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
-
40/40 27 October 2017
Spiderman steals a seat on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones at MCM London Comic Con's opening day
Rex Features
Snow and falling temperatures are also forecast for parts of Britain later in the week.
A yellow snow and ice warning is in place for Friday for Scotland, Northern Ireland, western England and Wales.
Additional reporting by agencies
- More about:
- Storm Caroline
- North Sea
- Scotland
Reuse content