Scots braced for heavy rain and strong winds as two named storms sweep in

A Met Office yellow warning for rain came into force at 7am and lasts until midnight as Storm Austen hits the country, with the warning area including much of Scotland, from as far south as the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway to Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.

Parts of the west, including all of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow are affected, with the majority of the east also forecast to see downpours.

Storm Boelo is then forecast to sweep in over the weekend, bringing strong winds.

A near-nationwide yellow warning for wind is in place from 6pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday.

With Storm Austen, the Met Office said on Friday there is a “small chance” homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings.

Commuters have been warned to check the availability of trains and buses, while spray and flooding may affect drivers and cause road closures.

There is a chance communities may become cut off due to flooded roads, and power cuts are also possible, the forecaster said.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 11 flood alerts in place in the same areas as the Met Office’s yellow warning on Friday.

With Storm Boelo over the weekend, the Met Office has warned of the risk of injuries, a danger to life, and damage to buildings due to flying debris and tiles blown from roofs.

Bridges and roads may close, mobile coverage may be impacted, and power cuts are also possible, it said.

ScotRail’s services to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central to Carlisle may face speed restrictions or cancellations due to the storms, and Traffic Scotland has urged motorists to stay tuned for updates.

Network Rail Scotland said speed restrictions will be in place on parts of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line, as well as routes across southern and eastern Scotland.

Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We can’t control the weather, but we can make sure we’re as ready as possible for whatever it brings.

“A big part of our job is staying one step ahead. We’re constantly looking at how the forecast is developing and what that could mean for different parts of the railway, allowing us to make the right decisions at the right time.

“We know any disruption from these storms will be frustrating, particularly as it’s the weekend, but we’ll do everything we can to keep people moving wherever it’s safe to do so.”

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “Safety is always our top priority, and with weather warnings in place as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland this weekend, there is an increased risk of flooding and disruption on the railway.

“We’ll have staff working around the clock to support Network Rail’s efforts and keep people moving safely wherever possible.

“We’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check the ScotRail app, website, or our social media channels for the latest travel information before setting off.”

Ferry operator CalMac said several of its services may be subject to disruption.