Scotland reels after Storm Floris batters transport, topples trees and cuts power to tens of thousands

Scotland is facing a slow and difficult recovery after Storm Floris tore across the country, plunging tens of thousands of homes into darkness and bringing large parts of the transport network to a standstill.

The amber weather alert expired late on Monday, but the damage left behind is still being counted. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) confirmed about 50,000 properties lost power at the height of the storm, which hammered the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire with some of the strongest summer winds in recent memory.

By Monday night, engineers had reconnected around 9,000 homes, but 43,500 more remained without supply. SSEN described Floris as “the most damaging summer storm in recent memory” and said it would be providing free hot food and drinks in communities still waiting for power to return.

Network Rail reported 119 separate incidents on train lines across Scotland on Monday, including 75 cases of fallen trees – some crashing onto overhead lines in Glasgow, Stirling and Paisley. In Clackmannanshire, teams worked to clear debris from lines near Alloa. Helicopters are being deployed to help engineers assess damage in remote areas.

“Storm Floris has caused significant disruption to Scotland’s railway,” said Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland’s route director. “As the storm passes, our focus switches to inspecting routes which have been closed by fallen trees, debris and other damage. We’re grateful to passengers for their patience.”

The disruption was felt far beyond the railways. Major road bridges were closed to high-sided vehicles, flights and ferries were suspended, and in some areas, vehicles were blown over by gusts reaching up to 90mph. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and numerous other events were cancelled. Edinburgh Castle shut its gates, while the Edinburgh Fringe Festival reported about 110 cancelled shows, mostly in temporary venues battered by the weather.

In Glasgow, filming for the superhero blockbuster Spider-Man: Brand New Day was halted in the city centre, adding to the list of events upended by the storm. Even Scotland’s education system felt the effects, with the SQA warning that the delivery of exam results letters would be delayed for pupils on the islands.

The Scottish government convened an emergency meeting on Monday night. Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance urged the public to avoid travel until the danger had fully passed, warning that the recovery would take time despite forecasts for calmer weather over the coming days.

“We will continue to receive updates throughout Tuesday and will have a better idea on public transport tomorrow morning,” she said, adding that power cuts were still affecting a “significant” number of homes.

ScotRail advised passengers to check its app or website before travelling on Tuesday, with residual disruption expected as inspections and repairs continue.

The Met Office has stressed that summer storms can cause particularly severe damage because trees are in full leaf, making them more likely to topple in high winds. Western coastal areas bore the brunt early on Monday before the storm tracked north-east towards Orkney and Shetland, where gusts of up to 70mph were still forecast overnight into Tuesday.

As Floris drifts towards Scandinavia, Tuesday is expected to bring calmer conditions – but for many communities, the clear-up has only just begun. Fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, and prolonged power cuts mean life will not return to normal quickly.

For thousands of families, the storm’s legacy will be measured not just in the damage it caused, but in the days of disruption it has left behind.