Storm Floris update: Panic amid warnings of more UK travel disruption
Storm Floris is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the UK on Monday, with a yellow weather warning already issued for the northern half of the country. Photo credit: Reuters
The Scottish government has convened an emergency meeting as Storm Floris continues to batter the country, causing widespread travel chaos and triggering a national response to power outages and infrastructure damage.
Late Monday evening, the government activated the Scottish Resilience Room (SGoRR) to assess and coordinate its response to the storm’s impact. Attending the high-level meeting were representatives from Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, the Met Office, and key utility and transport operators.
So far, officials have reported 119 incidents across the rail network, the majority involving fallen trees — 75 in total — resulting in extensive delays and cancellations across Scotland’s transport systems.
With wind speeds peaking at 90mph in parts of the country, rail services have suffered significantly. ScotRail said many routes remain suspended and require thorough safety inspections before they can be reopened. Disruption is expected to last until at least 4pm Tuesday, and passengers are advised to check journey updates via the app, website, or JourneyCheck tool before travelling.
Monday night’s Caledonian Sleeper service was cancelled, and both LNER and TransPennine Express warned of service suspensions north of Newcastle and Carlisle, respectively. Avanti West Coast also advised travellers to avoid routes north of Preston due to high winds.
Meanwhile, road and ferry networks have also been affected. Multiple bridges, including the Forth Bridge and Tyne Bridge, were closed to certain vehicles due to strong gusts. Police responded to reports of campervans being blown over on the A87 on Skye, and parts of the A96 in Aberdeenshire were blocked by fallen trees.
The storm’s strength was confirmed by Met Office data, which recorded a gust of 134mph at the summit of Cairn Gorm in the Highlands and 80mph on South Uist, the strongest wind speeds outside mountainous areas.
Beyond travel, the storm has taken a cultural toll. Monday’s performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was cancelled for the first time in its 75-year history, while a number of Edinburgh Festival Fringe events were also called off.
In a statement following the emergency meeting, Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance acknowledged the scale of the disruption:
“As expected, there has been significant disruption, particularly across the travel networks. We are still under an amber warning, and our advice is to remain cautious, stay informed, and avoid travel if possible until conditions improve.”
She added that recovery efforts, including clearing debris and restoring power to homes, would continue in the coming days as utility companies and local councils work to stabilize the situation.
Network Rail reported it is coordinating closely with all operators and has been “working around the clock” to mitigate the storm’s impact and restore services where safe.
Looking ahead, further unsettled weather is forecast, with more wind and rain expected to sweep across northwestern parts of the UK by late Wednesday into Thursday, though not at the same intensity as Storm Floris.
“While the system later this week won’t be as impactful as Floris, it will bring another bout of unseasonably wet and windy weather,” warned Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone.
As the nation braces for continued disruption, authorities urge the public to remain cautious, check travel updates regularly, and prioritize safety while recovery operations are underway.
