Man killed by falling tree as Storm Boelo batters Scotland
Man killed by falling tree as Storm Boelo batters Scotland
Sun, October 25, 2026 at 5:49 PM UTC
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The incident happened on a minor road in Mid Kelton
A 60-year-old man has died after being struck by a falling tree as Storm Boelo brought strong winds and heavy rain to Scotland.
Police said the man was on a minor road at Mid Kelton, near Castle Douglas, in Dumfries and Galloway.
Emergency services were alerted at about 10:30 and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The storm has left more than 50,000 properties without power, with winds gusting to 85mph at Machrihanish in Argyll and Bute.
An amber Met Office weather warning came into effect at 21:00 on Saturday, covering the mainland and Western Isles until 21:00 on Sunday.
Dozens of flood warnings and alerts were in place across the country and flooding also closed a number of roads, including the A78 Inverkip Road in Greenock; the A77 at Lendalfoot in Ayrshire; and several in Dumfries and Galloway.
Two women were injured by a falling tree in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Police have asked people to avoid the Poplar Avenue area of the town near Aberfeldy Footbridge, also known as the "bouncy bridge", after the incident at about 12:50.
In South Ayrshire, police evacuated dangerous buildings in Ayr and helped 15 people stuck at a flooded caravan park in Ballantrae.
Police Scotland said poor weather conditions and warnings were expected across Monday and Tuesday and "people must remain focused and vigilant".
Network Rail has reported that trees have come down on the tracks near Dumfries and Partick in Glasgow.
Highland Council has been dealing with fallen trees on a number of its roads.
Kirkwall Airport in Orkney has been closed until Monday.
In a message on social media, First Minister John Swinney said: "To stay safe, please keep following the latest advice.
"My thanks to our emergency services and to everyone for playing their part."
Scottish Power Energy Network said about 6,000 homes in its area are without electricity, mainly across Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
It is warning that more outages could occur as the storm continues.
SSEN has been dealing with more than 120 incidents in its area, with hundreds of properties in Aberdeenshire and more than 5,500 homes in the west Highlands without power.
Across the network, which covers the north of Scotland, 47,000 customers are awaiting restoration of their electricity supplies and another 32,500 customers have already had their connection restored.
Parts of the Western Isles are receiving electricity from an emergency power station due to a link to Skye being down.
Aberdeen City Council said flood gates at Riverside Drive have been closed as a precaution and will remain closed until at least Monday due to high levels on the River Dee.
Flooding affected Glasgow's Clarence Drive where this van became stranded
Although the 24-hour amber warning is not unprecedented, it is unusual because of the length of time it will be in place over such a wide geographical area.
The forecast triggered a meeting of the Scottish government's resilience room, which ensures the country is prepared for severe weather events, on Friday and again on Sunday.
Large waves hit Nairn on the Moray Firth coast
A charity in Ayr that looks after 50 dogs was forced to ask for help after Storm Boelo left it without power.
Claire Revis, founder of Saving and Rehoming Strays, said many of the dogs required specialist care due to health conditions, including diabetes.
"I have paralysed dogs that need nappy changes, and I was having to do that in the dark," she said.
Claire said others need medication that has to be kept refrigerated, and some dogs also have specific dietary requirements. She posted messages on a group chat to get assistance.
"I had a vegetarian friend making meals," she said.
How bad will the weather be?
The amber warning takes effect from 21:00 on Saturday
The strongest winds initially affected western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening, spreading eastwards overnight and through Sunday.
This will be accompanied by periods of heavy rain and frequent showers.
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Forecasters warned that flying debris could cause injuries and danger to life, with a good chance of power cuts and an impact on phone coverage.
A number of power cuts in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas have already been reported to SP Energy Networks.
The Met Office also warned of damage to trees and buildings, bridge closures and transport disruption.
The Erskine Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles on Saturday evening.
Winds will gradually ease from the west through Sunday.
Can I travel during the storm?
ScotRail said has warned of disruption across its services, but said the "vast majority" of services were expected to run as normal on Monday.
The operator said there had been speed restrictions on all routes, all day, bringing longer journey times and some service alterations.
The following routes are closed or facing cancellations:
Glasgow Central - Ayr: No trains operate between Kilwinning and Ayr.
Glasgow Central - Gourock and Wemyss Bay: Alterations to services.
Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig: No trains operate between Fort William and Mallaig and between Crianlarich and Oban.
Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh: No trains operate between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach.
Inverness - Wick / Thurso: No trains operate between Helmsdale and Wick / Thurso.
ScotRail said it was working with Network Rail's specialist weather team, who would carry out safety checks on all affected routes before passenger services could resume.
They have been clearing fallen trees and debris, and dealing with flooding and damage to infrastructure.
The operator said passengers should check journeys before travelling, allow extra time, and consider alternative arrangements where possible.
Passengers are advised to expect significant disruption and longer journeys, and should check services before they travel.
Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said it had been a "really challenging weekend" for the railway.
"We know disruption is frustrating and we really appreciate the patience people have shown this weekend while our teams do everything they can to get everyone moving again," he said.
The airports at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen have all had flights cancelled during the storms this weekend.
Journeys to and from London Heathrow, Dublin, and the Northern and Western Isles are particularly affected, and some flights to other English airports, Belfast and Amsterdam also cancelled.
Edinburgh Airport alone has had 81 cancelled flights and has reported 11 flights diverted to other airports since the start of the weather warnings on Saturday.
Calmac ferry services cancelled
West coast ferry operator CalMac said 27 of its 30 services were affected by the weather.
Some routes could face disruption until Monday and cancellation at short notice, the ferry operator said.
Passengers on NorthLink Ferries are advised that there is the "possibility of disruption" to services from Saturday to Thursday because of the weather.
Supt Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing for Police Scotland, warned drivers that conditions may be hazardous and urged them to consider whether journeys were "really necessary" over the weekend.
He warned:
Stopping distances can be at least double on wet roads compared to dry conditions, and spray can reduce driver visibility
HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police
If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journey
Stay tuned to media outlets for further updates and consult the Traffic Scotland website and social media channels for information relating to affected roads
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said weather conditions posed a safety risk in coastal areas and advised "extreme caution" if people were near the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
The charity's water safety lead, Michael Avril, urged people to keep a safe distance from the water as conditions "could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea".
Will events be cancelled?
Paisley's popular Halloween festival which was taking place this weekend has been cancelled. It included a parade, street theatre and outdoor light installations.
Renfrewshire Council said that while Friday's event had gone ahead as planned, it was "really sorry" that Saturday's events had been cancelled because of the severe weather forecast.
The Enchanted Forest event at Pitlochry on Saturday was cancelled and organisers said it was possible Sunday's event may also be cancelled.
A Halloween family fun day at Dean Park Castle and Country Park in Kilmarnock, scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed due to the weather warning.
Edinburgh City Council has said Princes Street Gardens, Lauriston Castle grounds, and Saughton Winter Gardens will be closed On Saturday evening and on Sunday.
Historic Environment Scotland advised that they have closed many of their properties across the country, including castles at Edinburgh, Stirling, Aberdour and Caerlaverock, and other landmarks such as Skara Brae in Orkney and Inchmahome Priory in Port of Monteith.
The National Trust for Scotland said some of the locations it manages will be closed because of the "adverse weather" and visitors should check social media channels for the properties before travelling.
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