Storm Boelo upgraded as amber wind alert brings ‘danger to life’ warning

Storm Boelo has been upgraded by forecasters, as Scotland is set to be battered by up to 80mph gusts over the weekend.

The second named storm of the season is set to hit Scotland on Saturday, after Storm Austen brought a deluge of rain on Friday.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind from noon on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, but an amber alert has now been issued.

It covers the whole of the mainland and the Western Isles from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, with injuries and danger to life from flying debris possible.

Some damage to buildings and trees, such as tiles blown from roofs and large branches or trees blown over, could happen, the Met Office said.

Disruption is expected on road, rail, air and ferry services, with fairly widespread gusts of 60 to 70 mph and gusts to 80 mph in exposed coastal areas.

The strongest winds will initially affect western Scotland and far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening and then spread eastwards overnight and through Sunday.

High winds will be accompanied by periods of heavy rain and frequent showers.

The winds will gradually ease from the west through Sunday.

Storm Austen brings heavy rain on Friday

The first warning for heavy rain came into force for central, southern and north-east Scotland at 6am on Friday and will run until midnight.

An area of heavy rain developed across southern and central areas of Scotland before dawn on Friday, extending over north-east Scotland during the morning and expected to continue into the early afternoon.

The Met Office says accumulations of 20-40mm are expected widely within the warning area through this period, with 60-80mm possible in some locations.

Forecasters are warning of a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings.

On Friday, Police Scotland confirmed the B9071 is closed between Garderhouse and the Reawick junction in Skeld, Shetland following a landslide. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.

Network Rail implemented speed restrictions on major routes to and from Aberdeen, between Glasgow Central and Carlisle and between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 11 flood alerts in place in the same areas where the Met Office’s yellow warning is in place.