Roads, rail, air and ferry services were all affected as winds gusting 100mph were recorded in central Scotland.
An ambulance transport car collided with a lorry on the A9 in Perthshire when it swerved to avoid a fallen tree.
The vehicle was driving a patient to a hospital appointment when the crash happened on the road between Greenloaning and the Balhaldie services.
An Ambulance Service spokesman said there were four people in the vehicle but none were injured in the collision.
In Tayside, a man and a woman were trapped in a car when a tree was blown down onto the vehicle.
Emergency services urged people to take extra care on the roads and to secure any items that could be blown away in gusty weather.
Trees and branches were blown down across the region, particularly in Perthshire, with some roads being forced to close.
The Tay Road Bridge between Dundee and Fife was shut to high-sided vehicles.
A Tayside Police spokesman said: "In addition to warning drivers to be alert on the roads, we would ask businesses and householders to ensure that items such as wheelie bins, ladders, bikes, garden furniture and even trampolines are secured and won't blow into harm's way."
Northern Constabulary said many routes were affected by falling debris, branches and trees.
The A82 was closed at Ballachulish, one mile south of Glencoe, with other roads facing disruption.
Lothian and Borders Police said trees and temporary traffic lights had been brought down by high winds in Edinburgh.
Motorists were earlier advised that parts of Scotland could be battered by winds of up to 80mph.
The Met Office issued a weather warning for "exceptionally windy weather", particularly across the central and southern parts of the country.
The possible impact of the severe winds was also raised at a meeting of Scottish Government's emergency committee yesterday.
Transport minister Keith Brown said drivers should plan their journeys and listen out for travel updates on the radio.
He said: "They should consult the Traffic Scotland website www.trafficscotland.org for further driver information and any disruption caused and listen to local radio bulletins before setting out on any journey.
"Variable message signs are alerting motorists to the risk of high winds and the operating companies are at a heightened state of readiness to deal with any issues that might arise across the trunk road network as a result of the high winds."
Matt Dobson, of Meteo Group, the weather arm of the Press Association, said the wind speeds recorded were "exceptional" for this time of year.
He said: "The wind speeds are really just peaking across central and southern parts of Scotland.
"In the last hour we have recorded a 77mph gust in Salsburgh, North Lanarkshire, which will be affecting those travelling along the M8 motorway.
"Speeds recorded in and around Edinburgh have reached around 67mph, and further up the east coast in Leuchars, Fife, we have recorded 70mph.
"The conditions have not passed very quickly but have moved away from the far north.
"Central parts of Scotland will be affected most, as well as areas up the east coast.
"There are strong winds being recorded on slightly higher ground, in Glenogle for instance, which is about 500 metres up, we have actually seen wind speeds of 100mph.
"This really is exceptional for this time of year, we have rarely seen gusts of this speed in late May.
"The winds will continue for the next few hours at least but it will begin to die down later in the evening."
To be fair the Brit summer doesn't really start till Wimbledon time, we get all sorts, including snow, in May as a matter of course.