to wonder why they closed the schools?

[moogster1a]

I don 't understand why high winds would shut a school. Apparently, lots of schools shut at lunchtime in sunny Scotland. As the forecast suggests the storm will be abating as the day wears on, why make the kids leave school. Why is that any safer than keeping them in till their normal kicking out time?
fail to see how leaving school at 12 o'clock means it's less likely for a tree to fall on you than leavin at half 3.

Because it gets dark soon after, and the chance of an accident rises?
Because the storm is expected to be worse during the evening?
Because they maybe decided that they shouldn't have opened them at all?

I don't know, I'm not in Scotland so don't feel qualified to answer, but I can guess a few reasons why.

Because the roads will be more chaotic later due to everyone trying to get home before the storm gets worse?

It's force 11. One more and it's an actual hurricane strength.

Home is the best place. Dinnae be daft.

The storm was predicted to start getting serious around 3pm. Police issued advice not to drive until 9pm. Schools and offices closing earlh meant more people could be safe at home instead of out in the wind, rain and falling slates.

Er have you not watched the news??

it's the worst weather in parts of Scotland for 15 years and unsafe to travel I'd say that'd do it!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16079849

This might be why?

Moogster. The majority of public transport has been cancelled or extremely reduced.
How are people supposed to get home? There are still 80mph winds and accidents being reported left right and centre.

This is why people were let out of schools and work early. I'd rather make the journey in daylight than in the dark.

Please refrain from making stupid comments about something that you clearly know nothing about.

They probably should not have opened at all, these winds are incredibly dangerous

A school bus was blown over in Ayrshire today; luckily it was only the driver on the bus and he was unhurt.

Could have been very different if there had been 40-odd primary age pupils on board.

I think the peak for the winds was meant to be 3-6pm so that might be why the half day.

In the areas where they closed at lunchtime the storm was due to hit at 3pm. There have been lots of bridge and road closures across Scotland so people porentially wouldn't have been able to make it to some schools later on. There was a high potential for structural damage (do you really want children walking home as slates fly about). Also the police did not want folks on the roads this afternoon.

It wasn't just the schools - lots of private companies closed theor offices and sent their staff home for safety.

It's just another excuse for those feckless teachers to get ANOTHER day off!

Its blown trucks over, do you really want your bairn on a bus?

fair enough. I thought it was meant to have been at its peak midday and getting better later on. I stand corrected. Bet it's quite exciting though. I love a good storm. Having fantasies about sitting wrapped up on some balcony overlooking a stormy sea.

And these photos are quite dramatic:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16094360

It was absolutely wild here at 3pm. Our schools closed all day and glad to stay in.wind lessening now but it was the right decision to close.trains and buses disrupted and the bridges over clyde and forth closed all day too. At least the schools are open tomorrow :-)

I saw that on the news Foxy, amongst other scary looking stuff. Looks like it's been terrifying up there today.

Are you in Scotland Moogster?

All the shops in town shut by four and the children sent home after lunch. It gives us all a chance to get indoors and safe before the worst of the storm hits.

We have to remember it is not just about getting the children home, it is about the staff shutting and securing the schools, the buses that take them the children home getting put safely away and the drivers getting home too. It all takes time and has a knock on effect.

Hope that answers your question.

Oh yeah, it's great fun. We really look forward to the inevitable damage, fence replacements, dented cars and not being able to leave the house.

Given that most of the seawalls have been breached, I think that standing on a balcony overlooking the sea is a very sensible option.

facepalm

I left work at 11.30am when nursery closed as I had to collect my own children. The drive down the hill was horrible. I then walked from the shops to school and it was bad enough then. By 2pm dh wasn't happy jobbing from job to job due to the weather and am glad we were home and he came home soon after and at least we're altogether and safe. Our back fence is down completely and there was a few bad masonary falls in edinburgh. If people hadn't stayed home there may have been more casulties.

In West Central Scotland the wind was to rise gradually during the day, peaking about noon. Perhaps the council thought it would be safer not to have tiny, lightweight people wandering around outside to be caught by a gust and swept out on front of a car?

I'm just guessing.

It's to give MNers another excuse to moan about schools of course .....

Hurricane Bawbag

snetter that photo of the wind turbine bursting into flames