Travel disruption and flood risk from first two named storms of season
Storm Beolo is expected to cause significant and widespread travel disruption with seven rail lines to close across the west and north of Scotland amid winds gusting to 80mph in the country’s first amber weather warning since April.
The 24-hour alert from 9pm on Saturday will follow a lesser yellow warning of heavy rain triggered by Storm Austen - the first of the season - which threatens flooding across southern and eastern Scotland.
That warning is due to expire at midnight on Friday but will also be followed a further yellow warning for 55-65mph winds from noon on Saturday across all of Scotland except Shetland.
Superintendent Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing for Police Scotland, warned drivers: “There is a high risk of disruption on the road network and travel conditions may be hazardous.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said: “Sustained heavy and prolonged rain throughout Friday will lead to high river levels and possible flooding quite widely across southern, central and eastern areas.”
The Met Office forecasts up to 80mm of rain on Friday, clearing from the west overnight.
However, the amber warning, covering all of Scotland apart from Orkney and Shetland, is expected to bring widespread 60-70mph gusts that could reach 80mph on coasts, spreading eastwards with heavy rain.
Network Rail said the Kilwinning to Ardrossan, Largs and Ayr lines would close at 9pm on Saturday followed by the Crianlarich to Oban and Fort William to Mallaig lines further up the west coast an hour later.
They will stay shut until being inspected for damage on Sunday.
The Kyle of Lochalsh route will be closed on Sunday west of Achnashellach along with the Helmsdale-Wick/Thurso line in the far north east until they have also been inspected for damage.
Speed restrictions across the rest of the Scottish network from Saturday night onwards will cause delays, with passengers warned to expect “significant disruption”.
These will follow speed restrictions on Friday on the east and west coast main lines south of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and between Edinburgh and Carstairs, Glasgow-Kilmarnock-Carlisle and Dundee-Aberdeen.
The Scottish Government said ministers had activated its Resilience Room to co-ordinate the response to the storms, with an initial meeting on Friday chaired by Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.
She said: “Much of Scotland will experience very high winds this weekend and people should be aware of the potential impacts of the Met Office’s amber alert, which includes transport and power disruption.
“The wind, coupled with the rain brought by Storm Austen, means that travel conditions could be dangerous and I would urge anyone planning travel to check their journey and follow all relevant advice before setting off.”
Boelo - pronounced boo-low - is of Dutch origin, means brave or strong.
Damage caused by Storm Austen included the historic West Pier in Brighton partially collapsing into the sea, while 31,000 homes in southern England were left without power.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned that the UK could face “a winter of greater flooding” and said we are living in a world where “unexpected events” are “more and more common”.