Widespread damage as Storm Amy 'hit harder' than expected

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Overnight, Storm Amy ravaged through Scotland, leaving widespread damage and over 60,000 homes without power. Network Rail reported more than 170 incidents, with high winds causing fallen trees, flooding, and debris blocking railway lines. The storm hit much harder and quicker than expected, forcing the closure of all train lines out of Glasgow and routes in southern Scotland.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) worked tirelessly to reconnect properties, but ongoing high winds posed challenges. An amber weather warning remained in place until 21:00 in northern Scotland, while a yellow warning extended to northern England and parts of Wales until midnight. The peak of the storm saw gusts of 96 mph on the Isle of Tiree, with disruptions in train services and cancelled ferries.

In cities like Glasgow and Inverness, scenes of destruction unfolded – from a derelict building collapsing onto a car in Broomielaw to a large shopfront sign blown away at Inshes Retail Park. Passengers on an Aberdeen-bound train were stranded after it hit a tree, with no injuries reported. The storm’s impact also led to flight cancellations, shut road bridges, and restrictions on high-sided vehicles.

The Met Office noted that Storm Amy set a new record for the deepest low-pressure area in the UK for October, with a central pressure of 947.9hPa recorded in Shetland. This surpassed the previous record set in 1988, highlighting the storm’s intensity. As a result, the junior and mini Great Scottish Run in Glasgow were canceled due to safety concerns from the severe weather forecast

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