Forecasters have upgraded a yellow warning to amber for wind across mainland Scotland and islands off its west coast, with Storm Boelo expected to bring gusts of up to 80mph this weekend. The storm is set to hit on Saturday, a day after Storm Austen brings heavy rain to many areas on Friday.
Warning timings and expected conditions
The amber alert comes into force at 9pm on Saturday and lasts until 9pm on Sunday, with only Orkney remaining under the yellow warning. A yellow warning starts at midday on Saturday.
The Met Office said: “Very strong westerly winds associated with Storm Boelo are expected, with fairly widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph and gusts to 80mph in exposed coastal areas.” The strongest winds will initially affect western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening, then spread eastwards overnight and through Sunday.
Safety advice from authorities
The Transport Scotland Resilience Room and Multi Agency Response Team will monitor conditions and co-ordinate responses across the transport network during the warning period.
Superintendent Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing for Police Scotland, said: “The amber warning for wind means there is a high risk of disruption on the road network and travel conditions may be hazardous. Our advice is to plan ahead and consider if your journey is really necessary or if it can be delayed until conditions improve. Stopping distances can be at least double on wet roads compared to dry conditions, and spray can reduce driver visibility. HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police. If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journey.”
Storm Austen's rain and flood risk
A yellow warning for rain is in force across much of southern and eastern Scotland on Friday due to Storm Austen. The Met Office said there is a “small chance” homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 11 flood alerts in place on Friday.
Scottish Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “The Met Office has upgraded its warning for Storm Boelo, with disruptive winds and heavy rain expected to impact most of Scotland this weekend. While the most severe conditions are expected within the amber warning area in the west of Scotland, a yellow warning remains in force across the whole country and travellers everywhere should be prepared for potential disruption.”
Travel disruption across rail and ferry services
ScotRail said its services to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Edinburgh, and Glasgow Central to Carlisle may face speed restrictions or cancellations. Network Rail Scotland said speed restrictions will be in place on parts of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line, as well as routes across southern and eastern Scotland, during some parts of the day.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We can’t control the weather, but we can make sure we’re as ready as possible for whatever it brings. A big part of our job is staying one step ahead. We’re constantly looking at how the forecast is developing and what that could mean for different parts of the railway, allowing us to make the right decisions at the right time. We know any disruption from these storms will be frustrating, particularly as it’s the weekend, but we’ll do everything we can to keep people moving wherever it’s safe to do so.”
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “Safety is always our top priority, and with weather warnings in place as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland this weekend, there is an increased risk of flooding and disruption on the railway. We’ll have staff working around the clock to support Network Rail’s efforts and keep people moving safely wherever possible. We’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check the ScotRail app, website, or our social media channels for the latest travel information before setting off.”
Ferry operator CalMac said several of its services are subject to disruption. Traffic Scotland has urged motorists to look out for updates, with spray and flooding potentially causing road closures and communities possibly becoming cut off due to flooded roads.
