Royal Mail has cautioned that deliveries across Scotland could face delays as Storm Boelo approaches, with the Met Office issuing an Amber weather warning for high winds. The warning is in effect from 9pm on Saturday, October 24 until 9pm on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Areas covered by the Amber warning
The Met Office has forecast "widespread gusts of 60-70mph, with potential for gusts of 80mph in exposed coastal locations." The affected regions include Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, Strathclyde, and SW Scotland, Lothian Borders.
Specific areas listed by Royal Mail include Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, Northumberland, Cumbria, County Antrim, County Londonderry, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian.
Royal Mail's response and advice
In a service update dated October 23, Royal Mail stated: "The wellbeing of our posties is our top priority and we're doing everything possible to maintain our services where it is safe to do so. Please note, this list is not exhaustive, and other areas may be affected by the weather warning. It is always best to check the Met Office website for the latest information."
The company explained that during adverse weather, it continually monitors conditions and undertakes risk assessments to maintain services while protecting posties' safety. It may temporarily adjust or pause services in affected areas if it cannot safely access certain streets or addresses.
Forecast details and public preparation
Met Office Chief Forecaster Dan Suri said: "Storm Austen is moving into the Low Countries today but will still bring wet and windy conditions to large parts of the UK through the day. Yellow warnings for wind remain in place for Wales and much of England today, and a warning for rain is also in force in southern Scotland. Conditions will eventually improve briefly tonight before Storm Boelo moves in from the west."
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway added: "Saturday morning will start dry and bright in the east of the UK, however further west rain and increasingly windy conditions will already be set in as people wake up for the day. This stormy weather will continue to move eastwards bringing rain and windy conditions to all of the UK."
He noted there are "a number of severe weather warnings issued for Storm Boelo, including an Amber warning for all of mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the very far north of England. Gusts could reach up to 80mph in places. More widely gusts will still reach 50-60mph and spells of heavy rain could also lead to some impacts."
Sidaway advised: "People should prepare by securing loose items outside their property, being ready in case of power outages and being aware of likely travel disruption."
