Storm Amy leaves trail of destruction as 42,000 homes still without power
By PAUL DRURY FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
Published: 17:54, 4 October 2025 | Updated: 17:54, 4 October 2025
A massive clear-up operation is underway after 100mph Storm Amy crippled the country's transport network and left thousands of homes without power.
Dozens of roads and motorways have been blocked by fallen trees and all trains were halted out of Scotland's busiest railway station, Glasgow[1] Central.
Flights were cancelled from Glasgow and Edinburgh[2] airports, including such destinations as London[3], Amsterdam and Frankfurt and the Scottish isles of Islay, Tiree, Barra and Benbecula.
Holidaymakers faced cancellations to hot spots such as Tunisia[4] and Nice on the Cote d'Azur.
On the west coast, Cal Mac's timetable was wiped out and lorries began piling up in south west Scotland after the cancellation of sea services to Northern Ireland[5].
In Ireland, police said the death of a man in Letterkenny, County Donegal, is believed to be weather-related.
Power cuts were reported in the Highlands, with engineers drafted in from England to restore supplies.
The occupants of this car had a miracle escape after a tree fell on it whilst it was being driven on the outskirts of the village of Beauly in the Highlands. Photo by Peter Jolly
The roof of this block of flats in Cumbernauld was blown off at the peak of Storm Amy
A trampoline ended up next to a road in Inverness after it was blown there by high winds
Gusts of 96 mph were recorded on the Island of Tiree at the peak of the storm.
However, a statement from Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) suggested an even higher figure was recorded, with the firm stating gusts 'in excess of 100 mph' had caused 'considerable disruption to the electricity distribution network' in the north of Scotland.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, almost 80,000 homes were without power.
However, by 3.30pm today power had been restored to 33,000 customers with efforts ongoing to reconnect the remaining 42,000.
A Met Office Amber warning for wind is in place until 9pm tonight for Grampian, Highland as well as Orkney and Shetland.
Businessman Ed Baynes lost an entire day's trading when the lights went out at the award-winning Clachaig Inn in Glencoe.
Mr Baynes said: 'We have 23 rooms and 12 self-catering chalets but we have had to turn everyone away.
'The bar is usually packed on a Saturday night, so we have lost trade from hundreds of people.'
Trees on the railway line between Stirling and Alloa
A building collapsed on the Broomielaw in Glasgow, leaving a car covered in debris
Play was suspended at the Alfred Dunhill Links golf event today after courses in St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie were hit by 60mph winds.
The winds have also disrupted efforts to repair the energy networks with SSE saying the winds are at times making it 'too dangerous to safely work at height to repair faults'.
SSEN has introduced a comprehensive welfare operation, with a dozen hot food vans heading to affected communities during the course of the day.
With the storm having passed much of Scotland, efforts will now be focussed on repairs and cleaning up the mess caused.
For example, on Friday night in Glasgow, a derelict building collapsed on the city's waterfront Broomielaw, crushing a car parked next to it.
The nation's roads took the brunt of Storm Amy, particularly in northern areas covered by a Met Office amber warning.
The A82 was shut in various locations due to flooding, including Dunglass Roundabout and Linday's Garage in Dumbarton, and at Inverbeg.
The A830 Road to the Isles was blocked in both directions by a fallen tree near Glenfinnan, at the junction with the A861 Loch Eil.
Motorways were also affected by trees brought down by the storm, including the M80 and M9.
ScotRail reported "significant disruption" across the country, with strong winds blowing debris onto overhead lines, heavy persistent rain causing flooding in many areas, and trees falling onto the tracks in parts of the country.
Network Rail Scotland said there were more than 170 incidentson the tracks, with 60 alone during the first two hours of the storm, with trees falling on overhead lines, flooding and debris on the rails.
All services from Glasgow Central's high and low level stations and Glasgow Queen Street low level were suspended on Friday night.
Some rail services started up again from Glasgow Central late yesterday (Sat) morning, including trains to Neilston and East Kilbride.
The destinations board still showed cancellations to Edinburgh, Largs, Gourock, Ayr, Wemyss Bay, Lanark and Ardrossan Harbour.
Avanti West Coast said it was 'strongly advising' against all travel north of Preston.
Trains from Glasgow to London showed 'cancelled' on the board as well.
Shoppers and commuters had to endure blustery conditions as the rain and wind swept in
A slew of routes had already been closed from Friday evening as a precaution, including Mallaig - Fort William, Fort William - Crianlarich, Inverness - Aberdeen, Inverness - Wick / Thurso, Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh and Perth - Inverness.
Two Scottish lifeboats were called out amid Storm Amy to help a yachtsman in trouble during Friday night in in Loch Aline in Argyll.
But despite having a hand injury the lone sailor declined an offer to be evacuated from the yacht, which had dragged its anchor at the head of the loch, on on the Morvern peninsula.
In Inverness, a large shop sign was blown off at the Inshes Retail Park and a boundary wall collapsed at Links Park Stadium, home of Montrose FC.
The club appealed for 'fit and able' supporters to help clear the debris.
SEPA currently has 15 flood alerts in place and 13 - more serious - flood warnings.
A yellow wind warning remains in place for eastern Scotland until noon tomorrow.
Gusts of between 60 and 70mph are still expected in Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Islands, Orkney and Shetland as well as south west Scotland, Lothian and Borders.