The destructive winds are lashing the very north of Scotland right now amid warnings that “flying debris” could pose a threat to life and travel chaos. 

The Met Office has put Britain on alert with an amber weather warning of wind in northern Scotland until almost midnight and a yellow warning in place until 6pm across the rest of Scotland. 

The national weather service has warned that gales could knock down trees and power lines and the extreme weather could cause disruption to road, rail, air and ferry transport in the very north.

It said: “Flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life. Some damage to buildings is possible, such as tiles blowing off roof.” 

This morning the Met Office said: “The wind is picking up across northern Scotland as Storm Caroline moves in.

“Storm Caroline will bring storm force winds across Scotland, combined with frequent snow showers. Mild, wet and windy across England and Wales at first, turning brighter and colder later.” 

The worst impact of the storm at the moment is in the north-west of Scotland, but gales and blizzards are expected to sweep across the north-east later as the storm passes. 

Although the rest of the UK will be spared from Storm Caroline day, an artic blast will bring snow storms, freezing temperatures and disruption to almost all of Britain tomorrow. 

The Met Office yellow warning of snow and ice will not take effect until just after midnight across the west side of Britain, stretching across Scotland, the west of England, North Ireland and Wales. 

Here is breakdown of the warnings in your area: 

Amber warning until 11.55pm: Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland

Yellow warning until 6pm: Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian Highlands & Eilean Siar, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

Overnight wind warning: Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands

Snow and ice warning from midnight: Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, Grampian Highlands & Eilean Siar, North West England, Northern Ireland, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, South West England, Strathclyde Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber

The Met Office chief forecaster said: “The strongest winds will reach the west early on Thursday, extending east through the morning. 

“Winds will start to ease in the west later in the morning and then all parts by late afternoon/evening. 

“Snow showers will turn increasingly frequent and heavy across large parts Scotland and Northern Ireland during the evening.”

The warning, which lasts until 6pm on Saturday, forecasts 2-5 cm of snow “fairly widely” with 10-20 cm in places, especially in northern parts of the home nations. 

The Met Office said: “During Friday, increasingly frequent snow showers already affecting parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England will extend across many other northern and western parts of the UK. 

“The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will progressively become confined to northeast Scotland during Saturday.”