A weather warning for "heavy snow and strong winds" has been put in place covering the west coast.

Our area is braced for Storm Ciara, which is set to bring 80mph gusts from the Atlantic. 

Weathermen have warned that it has the potential to disrupt traffic and even cause power cuts.

Travel problems are set to begin this weekend, with CalMac warning of likely disruption on all their routes. 

The Met Office have put a warning for strong winds on both Saturday and Sunday, before adding an additional snow warning for Monday and Tuesday. 

Their yellow warning statement says: "Heavy snow and strong winds will combine to lead to disruption to travel , especially over higher routes.

"There is a chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel".

High tide at Skelmorlie is expected 11.45am on Saturday, then again at midnight, and then just after midday on Sunday.

STV weather forecaster Sean Batty has warned it is "time to prepare for a tumultuous week as low-pressure systems barrel in from the Atlantic."

He added: "Expect to hear the term ‘weather bomb’ in the coming days, as the storm is expected to intensify rapidly on Sunday as it moves towards Scotland.

"From Storm Ciara we should expect winds to gust up to 60mph on the mainland and as high as 80mph around the northern and western coasts and islands.

"We’re in for a very unsettled time with the risk of damaging winds, flooding and travel disruption."

His comments come as ferry operator CalMac issued a warning of potential travel disruption from the incoming storm. See here

Due to engineering maintenance on the line, replacement buses instead of trains will cover part of the route between Largs and Glasgow Central on Saturday and Sunday, see here