Scotland faces a 24-hour amber weather warning for Storm Boelo from 9pm on Saturday, 24 October 2026, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast on exposed coasts.

At a glance: The Met Office amber wind weather warning runs from 21:00 Saturday to 21:00 Sunday across mainland Scotland and the Western Isles. Boelo is the second named storm in two days, after Storm Austen. Several ScotRail lines will close and police are urging drivers to avoid unnecessary journeys.

How strong will Storm Boelo's winds be?

Very strong.

The Met Office expects widespread gusts of 60-70mph, rising to 80mph on exposed coasts.

The worst arrives first in western Scotland on Saturday evening, then spreads east overnight and through Sunday, easing from the west as the day goes on. Heavy rain and frequent showers come with it.

Forecasters warn of flying debris, a danger to life, power cuts, patchy phone coverage, damaged trees and buildings and bridge closures. A 24-hour amber alert isn't unprecedented, but covering this much ground for this long is unusual.

Which train services are cancelled?

ScotRail has confirmed four line closures.

Glasgow Central to Ayr shuts between Kilwinning and Ayr from 21:00 Saturday, and the West Highland line closes between Fort William and Mallaig and between Crianlarich and Oban from about 22:00. From the first trains on Sunday, the Kyle of Lochalsh line closes between Kyle and Achnashellach and the Far North line shuts between Helmsdale and Wick or Thurso.

Network Rail is running reduced speeds across large parts of the network from Saturday night into Sunday.

Is it safe to travel during Storm Boelo?

Public transport is still running. Even so, Police Scotland's Supt Andy Barclay urged drivers to weigh up whether a journey is necessary at all, noting that stopping distances on wet roads can double. HGV and bus drivers may be asked by police to park up.

Coastal visitors face a separate risk. The RNLI's Michael Avril said conditions "could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea." CalMac has already cut some sailings.

Are events being cancelled?

Some.

A Halloween family day at Dean Park Castle in Kilmarnock, set for Sunday, is postponed.

Renfrewshire Council will announce Saturday plans for Paisley's Halloween festival closer to the time, and the Western Isles Council told organisers, churches included, to plan around Sunday's winds.

More to Know

Storm Austen came first. The Met Office calls it the first named storm of the season. It moved into the Low Countries on Friday and its own amber warning has expired.

Boelo arrives hard on the heels of Austen and the amber warning's 24-hour reach across Scotland is the notable part. Rail closures begin Saturday night, with the winds easing from the west through Sunday. Business Fortune asks travellers to check ScotRail and Traffic Scotland before leaving.

FAQs

  1. When does the Storm Boelo amber weather warning start and end?

    It runs from 21:00 Saturday 24 October to 21:00 Sunday 25 October 2026.

  2. How strong will the winds be during Storm Boelo?

    The Met Office forecasts widespread gusts of 60-70mph and up to 80mph in exposed coastal areas.

  3. Which areas of Scotland are covered by the amber warning?

    The mainland and the Western Isles, per the report.

  4. Are ScotRail trains running during Storm Boelo?

    Some are. Four lines close in part (Ayr, West Highland, Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North) and reduced speeds apply on much of the network.

  5. Was Storm Boelo the second storm in two days?
    Yes. Storm Austen, the season's first named storm, hit the UK on Friday.

Sources

Met Office, "Amber warning issued for Storm Boelo as Storm Austen moves through" (23 Oct 2026).  BBC News live page