A second falling tree sent two women to hospital in Perth and Kinross. Gusts peaked at 85mph, and an amber wind warning stayed in force across Scotland and parts of northern England until 9pm on Sunday.
A 60-year-old man has died after being hit by a falling tree in southern Scotland, as Storm Boelo continued to bring severe weather to the UK. Police Scotland said he was pronounced dead at the scene near Castle Douglas, in Dumfries and Galloway, at about 10.30am on Sunday. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said 161,400 properties were without power at 3pm GMT. The man’s identity has not been released.
The fatal incident
According to STV News, the man died on a minor road at Mid Kelton, near Castle Douglas. Police have ruled out suspicious circumstances and will send a report to the Procurator Fiscal, who investigates sudden and unexplained deaths in Scotland, ITV News Border reported. Police have not said whether he was walking, working or travelling when the tree fell.
In a second incident, STV News reports that two women were taken to hospital after a tree fell in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross. Police were called at about 12.50pm to Poplar Avenue, near a footbridge known locally as the Bouncy Bridge. Police urged people to avoid the area. The women’s ages, injuries and conditions have not been confirmed.
Power cuts
The ENA said engineers faced delays because dangerous conditions were “limiting network engineers’ opportunities to safely start the work”. Across Storm Boelo and the earlier Storm Austen, which hit on Friday, 838,700 properties faced power cuts.
At the Scottish Government’s 3.30pm briefing, ministers were told that about 40,000 customers in Scotland were still without electricity, and about 26,000 had been reconnected. The Scottish figure is part of the UK total and should not be added to it. SSEN said it had restored supply to more than 19,500 customers in its northern Scotland network by 11am. The worst-hit areas were Argyll and the west, Skye and the Western Isles.
The weather
Gusts peaked on Sunday morning at 85mph in Machrihanish, in Argyll and Bute, and 84mph in both Stornoway and Capel Curig in north Wales. The Met Office amber warning for wind stays in place until 9pm across Scotland and parts of northern England. A yellow warning covers other northern areas including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle, as well as parts of the East and West Midlands and north Wales, until the same time. The Met Office has urged people to “stay indoors as much as possible”, adding: “If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees.”
Four flood warnings were in place for England and Wales and 17 in Scotland. Cluanie Inn in the Highlands recorded 130mm of rain. The Scottish Government confirmed flood damage to properties in Largs and Saltcoats in North Ayrshire. The A78 Shore Road at Skelmorlie was closed because of damage to the road surface.
Jason Kelly, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, said: “People should prepare for the potential for disruption, particularly to travel and power supplies. Secure loose items outside, plan ahead if you are travelling and keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings for your area.”
The Scottish Government said conditions may ease later on Sunday, but adverse weather could return in the coming days. The Met Office has not confirmed another named storm. Police in Scotland warned against unnecessary road journeys.
Travel disruption
ITV News reported these bridge restrictions on Sunday afternoon, which may change:
| Bridge | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Dornoch Bridge, A9 | Closed to all vehicles |
| Queensferry Crossing, M90 | High-sided vehicles barred; 30mph limit |
| Clackmannanshire Bridge, A876 | High-sided vehicles barred; 30mph limit |
| Kessock Bridge, Inverness | High-sided vehicles barred |
| Tay Road Bridge, A92 | Cars only |
Ferry services were cancelled, and some flights to and from Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dublin were cancelled. On the railways, Dalmarnock station in Glasgow flooded overnight, and pumps had cleared it by about 11am, STV News reports. A culvert flooded at Craigendoran, fallen trees blocked tracks at Partick, and overhead wires were damaged at Bishopton. Trees also disrupted routes between Stewarton and Dunlop and between Stirling and Alloa.
Almost all LNER services to and from Aberdeen were cancelled, according to National Rail, and Northern cancelled all services to Bradford Forster Square. Passengers with affected Aberdeen tickets dated 25 October can use alternative LNER services until Tuesday 27 October, and can seek refunds if they cannot travel.
Network Rail expects most Scottish services to run normally on Monday after engineers cleared trees, repaired overhead lines and removed floodwater, with a helicopter and specialist equipment inspecting lines overnight. Four routes remain at risk: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, Inverness to Thurso and Wick, Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William and Oban, and Ayr to Stranraer. Scottish transport officials warned that disruption could extend into Monday’s morning commute.
Events cancelled
Events across the country were cancelled. In Merseyside, the River of Light event was called off for a second day, and Knowsley Safari Park closed because of “high winds”. Quayside Makers Market in Salford and Macclesfield Treacle Market were cancelled. In the East Midlands, the Worksop Half Marathon was called off, with closures at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, Robin Hood’s Wheelgate Park and Twinlakes Theme Park.
