(Image: Ben Birchall)
Storm Austen is expected to bring heavy rain to much of Scotland over Friday, with residents, drivers and business owners urged to take care.
A Met Office yellow warning for rain came into force at 7am on Friday.
The warning area includes much of Scotland, from as far south as the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway to Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.
Parts of the west, including all of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Glasgow are affected, with the majority of the east also forecast to be hit by rain.
The Met Office website said there is a “small chance” homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to buildings.
The first storm of the season is on its way ⚠️ #StormAusten will bring damaging winds with disruption expected, stay #WeatherAware Latest info 👉 https://t.co/TfU9Ok8qZD https://t.co/pXAMnmAChL
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 22, 2026
Commuters have been warned to check the availability of trains and buses, while spray and flooding may affect drivers and cause road closures.
There is a chance communities may become cut off due to flooded roads, and power cuts are also possible, the forecaster said.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 11 flood alerts in place in the same areas where the Met Office’s yellow warning is in place.
Sepa’s flood information system has three tiers, of which food alerts are the least severe, with warnings and severe warnings brought in when the flooding is worse. There are currently no warnings or severe warnings in place.
ScotRail’s services to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central to Carlisle may face speed restrictions or cancellations, and Traffic Scotland urged motorists to stay tuned for updates.
Network Rail Scotland said a number of rail routes across the country will be subject to temporary speed restrictions due to the rain.
⚠️ Travel advice – Friday 23 October Due to a @metoffice yellow weather warning for heavy rain, @NetworkRailSCOT has implemented speed restrictions across parts of the railway, meaning a revised timetable will be in place across some routes tomorrow. These restrictions are being introduced to allow trains to operate safely during the forecast weather conditions. 🚆 Services affected include: Services travelling to and from Aberdeen *Glasgow Central – Edinburgh Waverley * Glasgow Central – Carlisle Some services may be cancelled, make additional stops or take longer than usual. 📱 Please check your journey before travelling, allow extra time and keep an eye on our channels for the latest updates. https://t.co/Qs7FyGTexT
On the East Coast Main Line, speed restrictions will be in place between Edinburgh Waverley and Berwick from 1pm on Friday until 8.35am on Saturday. Services operated by LNER, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Lumo could be affected.
The West Coast Main Line between Glasgow Central and Carlisle via Lockerbie will also be subject to slower travel on sections of the route from 10am until 5.30pm on Friday. Services run by Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, Lumo, Caledonian Sleeper and ScotRail may experience delays as a result.
Read More:
- Shetland hit by flooding and landslide after heavy rainfall
- Scotland faces 80mph winds and heavy rain as Storm Boelo warning issued
- Heavy rain warning for Glasgow as Storm Austen blows in
Meanwhile, restrictions will be introduced between Curriehill and Slateford on the Edinburgh Waverley to Carstairs route from 1pm on Friday until 8.10am on Saturday.
The Glasgow Central to Carlisle line via Kilmarnock will also have speed restrictions on one section of the route between 10am and 5.30pm on Friday, while a speed limit will be in place between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven on the Aberdeen to Dundee route will be in force from 3pm on Friday until 8.30am on Saturday.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We can’t control the weather, but we can make sure we’re as ready as possible for whatever it brings.
“A big part of our job is staying one step ahead. We’re constantly looking at how the forecast is developing and what that could mean for different parts of the railway, allowing us to make the right decisions at the right time.
“We know any disruption from these storms will be frustrating, particularly as it’s the weekend, but we’ll do everything we can to keep people moving wherever it’s safe to do so.”
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “Safety is always our top priority, and with weather warnings in place as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland this weekend, there is an increased risk of flooding and disruption on the railway.
“We’ll have staff working around the clock to support Network Rail’s efforts and keep people moving safely wherever possible.
“We’d encourage customers to plan ahead and check the ScotRail app, website, or our social media channels for the latest travel information before setting off.”
Ferry operator CalMac said on X that several of its services may be subject to disruption.
Scotland faces more poor weather on Saturday and Sunday as a result of Storm Boelo, with an almost nationwide yellow wind warning in place from 6pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday.