Two men killed by falling trees - as Storm Boelo recovery under way

Workers continue to restore power to homes affected by Storm Boelo. The storm, which brought strong winds and weather warnings across Scotland, caused power outages throughout the nation. As of Sunday evening, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported that 38,000 customers were still without power, while SP Energy Networks (SPEN) noted that around 4,500 customers remained without electricity.

Tragically, a 60-year-old man died on Sunday when a tree fell in Dumfries and Galloway, and two women were injured by another fallen tree in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross. Emergency services responded to a flooded care home in Sidney Street, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, and all residents were confirmed safe. Local road closures were in place, with police officers remaining overnight to assist.

There are no additional weather warnings for Scotland on Monday, although a yellow wind warning begins at 3am on Tuesday, ending just before midnight. The storm caused 80mph gusts and significant travel disruption, following the heavy rain from Storm Austen on Friday. The Scottish Government's Resilience Room met on Sunday to discuss the aftermath of the storm.

Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville emphasized the importance of staying informed about the impact of the weather conditions, advising people to check official sources like the Met Office, Traffic Scotland, transport operators, and local authorities before traveling. She urged continued adherence to warnings and assistance to those in need.

Network Rail stated that most train services would resume normal operations on Monday, but passengers were advised to verify their journeys beforehand. They have cleared debris and repaired overhead lines and flooding affecting the network. Work continued into Sunday evening and overnight. Network Rail identified areas in Inverness, Thurso/Wick, Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William/Oban, and Ayr to Stranraer that might remain affected on Monday morning.

Gary Hopkirk, route director at Network Rail Scotland, highlighted the challenging weekend for Scotland's railway, focusing on safety and returning trains to normal service. ScotRail service delivery director Mark Ilderton acknowledged ongoing work to reopen certain routes, prioritizing customer and staff safety. Some roads and bridges in Scotland remained closed due to storm damage, including the A78 Shore Road between Skelmorlie and Largs in North Ayrshire, which was closed for repairs.

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, noted the road's closure due to severe cracking and displacement of the surface, with a diversion in place. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 11 regional flood alerts and 10 local flood warnings across the country, anticipating risks of surface water, river, and coastal flooding.