by BILL HEANEY
Overnight winds reached 85mph at Machrihanish in Argyll and Bute as Storm Boelo whipped torrential rain and gale-force winds off the Irish Sea into the West of Scotland.
Train and ferry services have been cancelled, and police have warned against unnecessary road journeys
An amber Met Office weather warning came into effect at 21:00 on Saturday, covering the mainland and Western Isles until 21:00 on Sunday.
Thousands of homes are without power, including in Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire. Strong winds could cause injury, flying debris, power cuts, and damage to trees and buildings.
Network Rail has reported that trees have fallen onto the tracks near Partick.
SSEN has been dealing with more than 120 incidents in its area, with hundreds of properties 5,500 homes in the West Highlands without power.
Parts of the Western Isles are receiving electricity from an emergency power station due to a link to Skye being down.
Although the 24-hour amber warning is not unprecedented, it is unusual because of the length of time it will be in place over such a wide geographical area.
A fallen tree blocking the B749 Monktonhill Road near Troon
How bad will the weather be?
The strongest winds initially affected western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening, spreading eastwards overnight and through Sunday.
This will be accompanied by periods of heavy rain and frequent showers.
Forecasters warned that flying debris could cause injuries and danger to life, with a good chance of power cuts and an impact on phone coverage.
A number of power cuts in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas have already been reported to SP Energy Networks.
The Met Office also warned of damage to trees and buildings, bridge closures and transport disruption.
The Erskine Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles on Saturday evening.
Winds will gradually ease from the west through Sunday.
ScotRail said they are working with Network Rail’s specialist weather team, who will carry out safety checks on all affected routes before passenger services can resume.
They will be looking out for fallen trees, debris, flooding, or damage to infrastructure.
The operator said passengers should check their journey before travelling, allow extra time, and consider alternative arrangements where possible.
Passengers are advised to expect significant disruption and longer journeys, and should check services before they travel.
CalMac ferry services cancelled
West coast ferry operator CalMac said 27 of its 30 services were affected by the weather.
Some routes could face disruption until Monday and cancellation at short notice, the ferry operator said.
Superintendent Andy Barclay, deputy head of road policing for Police Scotland, warned drivers that conditions may be hazardous and urged them to consider whether journeys were “really necessary” over the weekend.
He warned:
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Stopping distances can be at least double on wet roads compared to dry conditions, and spray can reduce driver visibility
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HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police
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If you need to travel, please drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journey
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Stay tuned to media outlets for further updates and consult the Traffic Scotland website and social media channels for information relating to affected roads
Helensburgh lifeboat and Loch Lomond Rescue Boat crews were on hand to deal with emergencies.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said weather conditions posed a safety risk in coastal areas and advised “extreme caution” if people were near the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers.
The charity’s water safety lead, Michael Avril, urged people to keep a safe distance from the water as conditions “could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea”.
Paisley’s popular Halloween festival, which was taking place this weekend, has been cancelled. It included a parade, street theatre and outdoor light installations.
The Enchanted Forest event at Pitlochry on Saturday was cancelled, and organisers said it was possible Sunday’s event may also be cancelled.
A Halloween family fun day at Dean Park Castle and Country Park in Kilmarnock, scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed due to the weather warning.
Edinburgh City Council has said Princes Street Gardens, Lauriston Castle grounds, and Saughton Winter Gardens will be closed on Sunday.
Historic Environment Scotland advised that they have closed many of their properties across the country, including castles at Edinburgh, Stirling, Aberdour and Caerlaverock, and other landmarks such as Skara Brae in Orkney and Inchmahome Priory in Port of Monteith.
The National Trust for Scotland said some of the locations it manages will be closed because of the “adverse weather” and visitors should check social media channels for the properties before travelling.
Dumbarton Castle was also closed to visitors.