The A9 trunk road linking the Highlands and central belt in closed in both directions due to Storm Babet, Traffic Scotland has confirmed.
There were wide power cuts reported in parts of Sutherland, with further incidents reported to the south of Inverness and south of Aviemore.
People are being urged not to travel within or to areas covered by a red 'danger to life' warning, and have advised caution in amber and yellow areas.
Three separate areas in the north-west were reported by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks as being without power on Thursday morning.
CalMac has cancelled all of its planned passenger ferry sailings on Thursday in response to Storm Babet.
A MAJOR international military exercise is to be held off the coasts of Sutherland and Ross-shire, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
Neither Sutherland – or Highland as the council area – get name checked among areas facing an amber weather warning on new Traffic Scotland webpage.
The Met Office has also upgraded rain warnings for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire to amber; after issuing a revised red alert in the Grampians.
The council said its roads department is preparing itself to respond to flooding incidents when the storm hits.
A separate yellow warning for rain elsewhere in northern Scotland has also been extended and now covers a large swathe of the Highlands and Moray.
Brace for flooding when Storm Babet hits the Highlands later this week, residents have been warned.
Unison has announced plans for a "rolling series of strikes", with specific dates set to be announced "in the coming days".
Two rain warnings have been issued for parts of the Highlands, with a third alert – for gales – covering virtually all of northern Scotland.
Strikes affecting University of the Highlands and Islands sites will go ahead as planned tomorrow, a union has confirmed.
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a tractor damaged a car near Ardgay.
WORK to boost inclusion through the teaching of British Sign Language has earned a Highland organisation a top prize in a prestigious UK competition.
Lochinver's George Appleby was among half-a-dozen youngsters whose poems won commendations from across the Highland Council area.
The plea has gone out to Highland residents who have CPR knowledge.
SOARING sea water temperatures are causing "deep concern" a Highland salmon farm business has warned.
A trio of meteor showers will be making their presence felt in October – with the Orionids of Halley's Comet fame being one of the three.