<Tr> <Th> Total fatalities </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Areas affected </Th> <Td> British Isles, Scandinavia </Td> </Tr> <P> Hurricane Bawbag was an intense extratropical cyclone, also known by the name Friedhelm, which brought hurricane - force winds to Scotland at the beginning of December 2011 . The storm also brought prolonged gales and rough seas to the rest of the British Isles, as well as parts of Scandinavia . On 8 December, winds reached up to 165 mph (265 km / h) at elevated areas, with sustained wind speeds of up to 80 mph (135 km / h) reported across populous areas . The winds uprooted trees and resulted in the closure of many roads, bridges, schools and businesses . Overall, the storm was the worst to affect Scotland in 10 years, though a stronger storm occurred less than a month afterwards, on 3 January 2012 . Although the follow - up storm was more intense, the winter of 2011 / 12 is usually remembered for Bawbag among Scots . </P> <P> The Free University of Berlin names low - pressure systems affecting Europe and gave the name Friedhelm to this storm . In Scotland, the storm was dubbed Hurricane Bawbag, the term bawbag being a Scots word for "scrotum", which is also slang for a coward or to describe a weak person . </P>

Has there ever been a hurricane in scotland