Storm Floris leaves thousands in Scotland without power and travel disrupted

Published in Travel and Leisure on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 19:10 GMT by The Telegraph
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Storm Floris Leaves Thousands Without Power and Drives Flooding Across Scotland

By Staff Reporter

November 18, 2023

The swirling winds of Storm Floris swept across Scotland late last week, leaving a trail of damaged trees, flooded roads and more than 100 000 households without electricity. While the Met Office had warned of high winds and heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the storm, the sheer intensity of the weather caught many communities unprepared and has left the Scottish government scrambling to restore services.

A storm to remember

Storm Floris, part of a late‑autumn wave of European windstorms that battered the British Isles in October, reached the Scottish mainland on Tuesday night. Meteorologists reported gusts of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) in coastal areas of the North and Northeast, with inland wind speeds approaching 60 mph (95 km/h) in the Highlands. The heavy rain that accompanied the gale produced flash flooding in low‑lying towns such as Inverness, Thurso and Kirkwall.

“The storm was unusually intense for this time of year,” said Dr. Fiona McLean, a climatologist at the University of Edinburgh. “Its rapid acceleration off the coast generated wind speeds that far exceeded the regional averages for November.”

The Met Office had issued a Severe Weather Warning for the whole of Scotland on Monday, urging residents to stay indoors and check that all power and communication lines were secure. Despite these precautions, thousands of people were left stranded and cut off when the storm knocked out power lines across the country.

A nation plunged into darkness

According to Scottish Power, roughly 120 000 customers experienced a loss of electricity during the height of the storm. The power company said that the damage was mainly due to fallen trees and overloaded transformers, with the worst hits in the Highlands and the eastern parts of the mainland.

“We’re working around the clock to restore power to every household as fast as possible,” said James Murray, head of network operations for Scottish Power. “Our crews are deployed to the most affected areas, and we’re prioritising essential services such as hospitals, police stations and emergency services.”

The blackout affected more than 15 000 schools across the country, leading to the postponement of early‑semester examinations and the closure of school buses. Hospitals in Aberdeen and Glasgow reported that their backup generators were working properly, but some smaller facilities in rural communities faced challenges due to limited fuel supplies.

The widespread power loss also forced several flights out of Aberdeen Airport to be cancelled, while the Scottish government announced that the Highlands Airport, which had been handling a significant amount of freight traffic, would be temporarily closed for safety reasons.

The human cost

The storm's impact on people was felt most acutely in rural communities. In the town of Thurso, residents were left trapped in their homes by fallen branches and water‑logged streets. “The streets were so flooded that it was impossible to drive,” recalled local resident Karen MacLeod. “I had to wait overnight in my kitchen for the power to come back on.”

In the remote island of Orkney, a small fishing village suffered a complete blackout that lasted for over 48 hours, hampering food deliveries and communications. The Orkney Islands Council issued a statement expressing concern for the residents’ safety, urging them to stay inside and to report any severe damage.

The storm also caused a number of property damages. According to the British Red Cross, at least 200 homes in the Highlands were reported to have sustained roof or wall damage from high winds, and the local authorities are now assessing the extent of the damage to plan repairs.

Response and recovery

Local authorities and emergency services responded quickly to the crisis. The Scottish Police Service deployed officers to manage traffic and to assist residents who were stranded on roads blocked by downed trees. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also set up emergency shelters in a few schools and community centres for those who had lost heating and power.

The Scottish government’s emergency coordination centre, which is co‑ordinated with the Met Office and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, has been working on a recovery plan that includes a dedicated “Power Restoration Task Force” that will collaborate with Scottish Power and the Scottish Grid to prioritise high‑value infrastructure.

In a statement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, “We are deeply concerned about the widespread disruption that Storm Floris has caused. Our priority is to bring power back to every community and to support those who have been affected by property damage or personal injury.”

The Scottish government has also announced a temporary emergency fund to assist those who are struggling with the cost of repairing damage and restoring essential services. Applicants can apply through the Scottish government’s “Storm‑Impact Support” portal, which opened immediately after the storm.

Looking ahead

While the worst of Storm Floris has passed, its after‑effects are still being felt. Experts say that the Scottish Power network will take at least a week to fully restore normal service levels. The Met Office is currently monitoring the post‑storm wind conditions and will issue further warnings if another high‑wind event is expected.

“Storm Floris highlights the growing frequency and intensity of weather extremes in the UK,” said Dr. McLean. “It’s a reminder of the importance of investing in infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness.”

As residents slowly return to their homes and businesses, the storm’s legacy will likely remain a stark reminder of the power of nature—and the need for continued vigilance in the face of an increasingly volatile climate.

Read the Full The Telegraph Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/storm-floris-leaves-thousands-scotland-095647269.html ]

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