SCOTLAND is bracing itself for widespread travel and power disruptions as forecasters predict hurricane-force winds and heavy rain.

The severe weather is expected to worsen overnight tonight and into tomorrow, with a risk of gusts up to 100mph in some places and 70 mph winds across the rest of the country.

The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" warnings for north and north-west Scotland, the Western Isles and Orkney, while the rest of the country is facing yellow "be aware" warnings.

The public have been warned to prepare for disruption to transport and power supplies, as well as the possibility of structural damage.

Forecaster Laura Young said: "When you reach wind speeds of 100mph, you are always going to experience big problems.

"The only saving grace for the exposed north and Orkney is that the first belt will hit overnight and will have died down by Friday morning.

"These are areas of sparse population, so the effects will not be as bad as they would be if it hit the central belt.

"But you will still be looking at disruption to travel and the possibility of power lines being brought down.

"People will need to be really careful when they are travelling. It's best to keep up-to-date with our forecasts and warnings."

Drivers have been urged to take extra precautions on the roads due to a risk of surface water and localised flooding.

Bridge closures are also likely, as well as ferry cancellations.

Caledonian MacBrayne already cancelled some of its routes yesterday and warned passengers that most routes are now on amber alert for disruption.

The Met Office has also said the gales could lead to "dangerous conditions" along the coast.

Superintendent Stewart Carle, of Police Scotland's road policing unit, said: "During this period of extreme weather, road policing crews will be patrolling the road network in order to keep people safe.

"Please be aware of the advice being issued, and drive with extra caution and use common sense in challenging situations."

Energy firm Scottish Power said it was "gearing up" for the severe weather and making as many engineers as possible available to repair any damage quickly.

SSE said it was also making preparations and had "mobilised hundreds of additional staff on the ground and in customer call centres".

Rodney Grubb, head of operations at SSE, said: "With wind speeds of around 100mph it is ever so easy for garden furniture and farm equipment to be carried by the wind at high speed, which then becomes tangled in our power lines.

"I would urge customers, especially in rural areas, to ensure anything that has the potential to become wind borne debris is secured."

The extreme conditions are being caused by a powerful jet stream surging in from the Atlantic.