Perth and Kinross, alongside the wider Tayside, Fife, and Stirling regions, experienced significant upheaval on Monday as Storm Floris made its impactful presence felt. The Met Office had issued severe weather warnings, including an amber alert for wind from 10 am to 11 pm, cautioning residents about “unseasonably strong and disruptive” gusts that could reach up to 90mph, posing a “danger to life” from large waves and airborne debris. A broader yellow wind warning was also in effect from 6 am until midnight, setting the stage for a day of widespread disruption across essential services and daily life.
The storm’s fury quickly impacted travel routes critical to Perthshire commuters and residents. The Tay Road Bridge, a vital link between Fife and Dundee, was completely shut down to all vehicles when wind gusts surpassed 80mph, compelling motorists to reroute via Perth. This closure, which initially began with restrictions for double-decker buses and a 30mph speed limit earlier in the day, escalated significantly as conditions intensified. Similarly, the Forth Road Bridge saw restrictions, closing to double-decker buses, motorcycles, and pedestrians, further complicating journeys for those traveling between the central belt and Fife. Routes typically serving the Perth and Kinross area were also affected by the knock-on effects of bridge closures, including the Kincardine and Clackmannan Bridges, which diverted bus services away from their usual paths toward Stirling and Glasgow.
Road networks within Perth and Kinross and neighbouring Stirling were particularly vulnerable to the high winds. Reports from Stirling detailed numerous incidents, including fallen trees obstructing the A91 between Springkerse Retail Park and Manor Powis Roundabout, and another impacting the A81 in Strathblane near the Village Club. Crucially for Perthshire, multiple trees were reported down along the scenic south Loch Tay road, a popular but exposed route often used by local residents and visitors. Other affected roads in the Stirling area included the B821 Cuilts Brae, Snowdon Place near King’s Park, and a dangerous tree at Manse Brae in Gargunnock. While some closures, such as the A873 from Thornhill to Aberfoyle and the A84 Keltie Bridge to Callander (following a collision), later reopened, the initial disruption caused considerable travel delays. The A9 northbound near Dunblane also experienced restrictions due to a road traffic incident, adding to the day’s motoring challenges.
Power supplies across Perth and Kinross were not immune to Floris’s wrath. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported multiple outages affecting local communities. Postcodes encompassing Crieff (PH6), Comrie (PH7), Aberfeldy and Killin (FK21, PH15), Kinloch Rannoch (PH16, PH17), Pitlochry (PH9, PH13), and Meikleour (PH1, PH2) all experienced power cuts. Similar issues affected Kinross (KY13). SSEN acknowledged that due to the severity of the storm, not all customers who lost power might be reconnected by the end of Monday, prompting them to mobilise additional field engineers and control room staff. They also proactively advised over 100,000 vulnerable customers to prepare for potential outages.
Public transport services faced significant hurdles. A major train operator took the drastic step of cancelling all services north of Newcastle, impacting direct rail links to Tayside and Fife. Network Rail further announced the cancellation of all trains north of Fife and Perth from noon, implementing a reduced timetable and a maximum speed of 50mph on other routes for safety reasons. This meant lines connecting Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee, and Perth to Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, among others, were shut down, causing widespread disruption for rail passengers. Bus operators, including Stagecoach East Scotland, confirmed services were still running but with major disruptions or suspensions, such as Stagecoach altering Fife-Dundee routes to connect via Perth, and the Stirling Sightseer open-top bus being grounded. The Trossachs Explorer service, popular in the Stirling area, was also entirely cancelled due to safety concerns.
Beyond infrastructure, various local attractions and public services in and around Perth and Kinross adjusted their operations for public safety. Scone Palace, a prominent Perthshire landmark, closed its gardens, although the palace itself remained open at a reduced entry price. Other closures included the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, Dundee Museum of Transport, and Active Dundee’s outdoor sports and activity facilities, such as Camperdown Wildlife Centre. Local authorities in Angus suspended all bin collections and closed recycling centres from midday, mirroring a similar closure at Lower Polmaise Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Stirling.
Throughout the day, emergency services and local councils worked diligently to manage the storm’s impact. Police Scotland issued comprehensive advice, urging residents to prepare for hazardous travel conditions, charge mobile phones, carry essential supplies, and strictly heed all road closure signs. They emphasised that ignoring such warnings could impede emergency and recovery efforts for those genuinely in need. Residents were strongly encouraged to monitor official channels for the latest updates and travel advisories. As Storm Floris continued its passage, the focus remained firmly on public safety and community resilience. While the immediate disruptions were significant, the coordinated efforts of authorities and the preparedness of many residents helped mitigate the worst of the storm’s potential consequences. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for complete restoration of services were expected to become clearer as the storm began to subside.
The storm’s fury quickly impacted travel routes critical to Perthshire commuters and residents. The Tay Road Bridge, a vital link between Fife and Dundee, was completely shut down to all vehicles when wind gusts surpassed 80mph, compelling motorists to reroute via Perth. This closure, which initially began with restrictions for double-decker buses and a 30mph speed limit earlier in the day, escalated significantly as conditions intensified. Similarly, the Forth Road Bridge saw restrictions, closing to double-decker buses, motorcycles, and pedestrians, further complicating journeys for those traveling between the central belt and Fife. Routes typically serving the Perth and Kinross area were also affected by the knock-on effects of bridge closures, including the Kincardine and Clackmannan Bridges, which diverted bus services away from their usual paths toward Stirling and Glasgow.
Road networks within Perth and Kinross and neighbouring Stirling were particularly vulnerable to the high winds. Reports from Stirling detailed numerous incidents, including fallen trees obstructing the A91 between Springkerse Retail Park and Manor Powis Roundabout, and another impacting the A81 in Strathblane near the Village Club. Crucially for Perthshire, multiple trees were reported down along the scenic south Loch Tay road, a popular but exposed route often used by local residents and visitors. Other affected roads in the Stirling area included the B821 Cuilts Brae, Snowdon Place near King’s Park, and a dangerous tree at Manse Brae in Gargunnock. While some closures, such as the A873 from Thornhill to Aberfoyle and the A84 Keltie Bridge to Callander (following a collision), later reopened, the initial disruption caused considerable travel delays. The A9 northbound near Dunblane also experienced restrictions due to a road traffic incident, adding to the day’s motoring challenges.
Power supplies across Perth and Kinross were not immune to Floris’s wrath. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported multiple outages affecting local communities. Postcodes encompassing Crieff (PH6), Comrie (PH7), Aberfeldy and Killin (FK21, PH15), Kinloch Rannoch (PH16, PH17), Pitlochry (PH9, PH13), and Meikleour (PH1, PH2) all experienced power cuts. Similar issues affected Kinross (KY13). SSEN acknowledged that due to the severity of the storm, not all customers who lost power might be reconnected by the end of Monday, prompting them to mobilise additional field engineers and control room staff. They also proactively advised over 100,000 vulnerable customers to prepare for potential outages.
Public transport services faced significant hurdles. A major train operator took the drastic step of cancelling all services north of Newcastle, impacting direct rail links to Tayside and Fife. Network Rail further announced the cancellation of all trains north of Fife and Perth from noon, implementing a reduced timetable and a maximum speed of 50mph on other routes for safety reasons. This meant lines connecting Edinburgh to Fife/Perth/Dundee, and Perth to Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, among others, were shut down, causing widespread disruption for rail passengers. Bus operators, including Stagecoach East Scotland, confirmed services were still running but with major disruptions or suspensions, such as Stagecoach altering Fife-Dundee routes to connect via Perth, and the Stirling Sightseer open-top bus being grounded. The Trossachs Explorer service, popular in the Stirling area, was also entirely cancelled due to safety concerns.
Beyond infrastructure, various local attractions and public services in and around Perth and Kinross adjusted their operations for public safety. Scone Palace, a prominent Perthshire landmark, closed its gardens, although the palace itself remained open at a reduced entry price. Other closures included the National Wallace Monument in Stirling, Dundee Museum of Transport, and Active Dundee’s outdoor sports and activity facilities, such as Camperdown Wildlife Centre. Local authorities in Angus suspended all bin collections and closed recycling centres from midday, mirroring a similar closure at Lower Polmaise Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Stirling.
Throughout the day, emergency services and local councils worked diligently to manage the storm’s impact. Police Scotland issued comprehensive advice, urging residents to prepare for hazardous travel conditions, charge mobile phones, carry essential supplies, and strictly heed all road closure signs. They emphasised that ignoring such warnings could impede emergency and recovery efforts for those genuinely in need. Residents were strongly encouraged to monitor official channels for the latest updates and travel advisories. As Storm Floris continued its passage, the focus remained firmly on public safety and community resilience. While the immediate disruptions were significant, the coordinated efforts of authorities and the preparedness of many residents helped mitigate the worst of the storm’s potential consequences. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for complete restoration of services were expected to become clearer as the storm began to subside.