Travel disruption as Storm Floris set to batter Scotland with 85mph winds
Amber warnings have been issued for much of the country, lasting from 10am to 10pm.
Gusts of 50 to 70mph have been forecast for many parts and are likely to reach 80 to 90mph on some exposed coasts, hills, and bridges.
Heavy rain is also forecast for some areas.
The forecaster has urged the public to stay indoors 'as much as possible' with high winds creating a risk of injury.
Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday.
Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm.
'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X.
All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions.
Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon.
Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast.
Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also being valid until Wednesday.
Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris.
The operator said services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh.
Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added.
Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes.
Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week.
'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.'
Edinburgh's Military Tattoo performance set for Monday has also been cancelled, organisers said.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: 'Key partners have met to discuss preparations for next week and conditions will be monitored over the weekend and into next week.
'Given the unusual timing and the fact that some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm.
'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country.
'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however, the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi-Agency Response Team, if required.
'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, SEPA, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.'
• Highlands & Eilean Siar (Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar)
• Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling)
• Grampian (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray)
• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian)
• Strathclyde (Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire)
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The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Storm Floris to cause disruption into Tuesday in Scotland, Network Rail says
Disruption to the rail network in Scotland from Storm Floris is likely to continue into Tuesday, passengers have been warned. Network Rail said it is working 'tirelessly' to clear routes blocked by falling trees and debris. However, some checks will need to be carried out on Tuesday morning. Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland's route director, said: 'Storm Floris has caused significant disruption to Scotland's railway, with wind speeds of up to 90mph, unprecedented for a summer storm. 'Our teams have been working tirelessly to keep services moving where possible and to clear fallen trees and debris from the tracks. 'As the storm passes later this evening, our focus switches to inspecting routes which have been closed by fallen trees, debris and other damage. 'Our teams will work through the night, but this work will continue into Tuesday morning. 'We'll use two helicopters to assist engineers on the ground. We're grateful to passengers for their patience whilst we do this.' 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Police said they had received 'multiple reports' of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree on Skye, while in Aberdeenshire the A96 is closed in both directions near Old Rayne because of several fallen trees. Fallen trees have also seen a number of other roads closed, including the A95 Rosarie road in both directions and the A96 in a number of locations, while the A9 at Daviot is partially blocked by a fallen tree. High winds have also led to the closure of the A9 Dornoch Bridge in both directions, and the A1 Tyne Bridge is only open to cars and single-decker buses. Those driving in poor weather have been urged to avoid the worst-hit areas and slow down when on the roads while allowing time for delays. The storm has also had a 'severe impact' on railways, with a number of services being pre-emptively cancelled and speed limits in place on all routes. Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee; Perth to Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness and the West Highland Line are among the routes that were closed at noon on Monday. Network Rail has reported a number of storm-related incidents, including trees falling on to overhead lines at King's Park in Glasgow, Cornton near Stirling and near Paisley, and damage to overhead wires in the Hamilton Circle area. LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle while Avanti West Coast has advised passengers not to travel north of Preston, as it warned it will be 'heavily impacted' by the weather. Meanwhile, ScotRail has urged people to secure all outdoor equipment such as trampolines. Posting on social media, the rail operator said: 'We're asking anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don't blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.' 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The minister added: 'If you have an elderly relative or neighbour who may be a wee bit vulnerable, please be a good neighbour, be friendly, just check they're alright.' She said anyone who has to travel is likely to face disruption and should plan ahead, adding: 'Consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey. 'Please make sure you've got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up.' A yellow warning for other parts of Scotland is in place from 6am until midnight. Forecasters have warned people who are outdoors to avoid walking or seeking shelter near buildings or trees, and said that loose items including bins and garden furniture could blow away unless secured. The Met Office said there was the potential for power cuts in some areas as well as disruption to mobile phone coverage. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August. January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
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16 minutes ago
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Storm Floris disrupts road, rails and ferries and sees festival events cancelled
Disruption on the railways has left passengers facing multiple cancellations, while a number of roads around the country have been blocked. Western coastal areas are bearing the brunt of the summer storm but strong winds and heavy rain are affecting much of the rest of the country. An amber weather warning is in place in an area stretching from the central belt to the north coast until 11pm, with the Met Office saying injuries and danger to life are expected from large waves hitting seafronts, coastal roads and properties. The rest of the country is covered by a yellow weather warning until 11.59pm on Monday. We have received reports of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree due to high winds caused by Storm Floris. We are advising motorists not to travel on the Bealach na Ba. Campervans should remain parked in sheltered areas until wind speed reduces. — Police Scotland Highland & Islands (@PSOSHighland) August 4, 2025 Police said they had received 'multiple reports' of campervans being blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree on Skye, while in Aberdeenshire the A96 is closed in both directions near Old Rayne because of several fallen trees. Fallen trees have also seen a number of other roads closed, including the A95 Rosarie road in both directions and the A96 in a number of locations, while the A9 at Daviot is partially blocked by a fallen tree. High winds have also led to the closure of the A9 Dornoch Bridge in both directions, and the A1 Tyne Bridge is only open to cars and single-decker buses. Those driving in poor weather have been urged to avoid the worst-hit areas and slow down when on the roads while allowing time for delays. Here's a photograph of the damaged tree we were dealing with at Cornton, near Stirling.@ScotRail #StormFloris — Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) August 4, 2025 The storm has also had a 'severe impact' on railways, with a number of services being pre-emptively cancelled and speed limits in place on all routes. Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee; Perth to Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness and the West Highland Line are among the routes that were closed at noon on Monday. Network Rail has reported a number of storm-related incidents, including trees falling onto overhead lines at King's Park in Glasgow, Cornton near Stirling and near Paisley, and damage to overhead wires in the Hamilton Circle area. LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle while Avanti West Coast has advised passengers not to travel north of Preston, as it warned it will be 'heavily impacted' by the weather. Meanwhile, ScotRail has urged people to secure all outdoor equipment such as trampolines. 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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
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Moment herd of cows go on the run in a Scotland housing estate after 124mph winds from Storm Floris blows down fence
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