FORECASTERS have warned motorists and commuters to expect travel disruption today as more severe weather sweeps across the country.

Rain, ice and snow are all predicted, with gale-force winds of up to 80mph in Strathclyde and the Highlands. Grampian, Lothian and Borders, Central and south-west Scotland will all be hit with ice on the roads.

It emerged yesterday a ­platform in the North Sea had been evacuated following testing weather conditions. The storms forced precautionary measures on the part of Talisman Sinopec Energy UK who closed their Buchan Alpha installation.

A total of 75 people were airlifted from the North Sea platform, amid rising concerns of high waves and strong winds.

It is the second time in as many months the Buchan Alpha platform has been shut down for storms - 85 workers were evacuated at the beginning of December.

A spokesman for the company said: "As per the installation's Safety Case, we began the planned procedure on Thursday as a result of severe weather forecasts and in advance of the sea state exceeding the stated level over the weekend.

"Production was shutdown on Thursday and will remain shut down while we continue to monitor the weather conditions.

The spokesman added: "We will upman, and normal operations will resume when conditions improve. The safety of all of those who work on our sites remains of paramount importance."

Lashings of wind, rain and snow have blighted the country's transport links, with a number of bridges closed to high-sided vehicles.

Transport Scotland said the snow gates on the A93 between Braemar and Spittal of Glenshee had been closed, while the ­Friarton and Skye bridges were temporarily closed to high-sided vehicles.

Surface water caused has also been causing problems on routes in Dumfries and Galloway and Strathclyde.

Elsewhere, Police Scotland said there were a few minor collisions on the A9, near Aviemore, where there also was an excess of surface water. In Stirlingshire, the A809 was closed due to flooding between Strathendrick Golf Course, near Drymen, and the B834 while in North Ayrshire the A760 Dalry Road was also shut between Largs Golf Club and Kilbirnie.

The Met Office warned: "Gale or severe gale-force winds are expected into Monday morning, particularly for the Western and Northern Isles, with the potential for gusts in excess of 70 or even 80mph at times."

It has also distributed "yellow" warnings of ice for all parts of Scotland, and snow for Strathclyde, Central, Tayside and Fife, while the Scottish ­Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts in areas covering Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, and west-central Scotland.

In Glasgow, a torchlit ­procession to mark the 2014 Commonwealth Games was cancelled yesterday due to fears for public safety in the severe wind and rainfall. The event, organised by Glasgow University was expected to attract 1500 people. It will be rescheduled.