Storm Boelo floods coastal towns across Scotland

Amber wind warning remains as gusts exceed 80mph and flooding hits Largs, Dumbarton, Rothesay, and Skelmorlie

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Storm Boelo has brought widespread flooding to coastal areas of Scotland overnight, with towns including Largs, Dumbarton, Rothesay, and Skelmorlie among the worst affected. An amber wind warning issued by the Met Office remains in effect until 9pm on Sunday, and further disruption is expected into next week.

Widespread flooding overnight

Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the year, caused coastal flooding across Scotland overnight. In Largs, North Ayrshire, water swamped the high street. A video shared by local ice cream shop Geraldo’s captured the scene.

“26 years of being here and it’s the highest it’s ever been,” the owner said in the footage. “We’re standing here in a doorway trying to protect our businesses from this disaster. It’s just heartbreaking. It really is. We’ve never seen it this high. The amount of stock that has been damaged… God knows what the inside of my shop is like. I can’t even get inside my shop right now.”

Further north, Shore Road in Skelmorlie was closed after seawater flooded the coastline near homes. Gourock’s outdoor pool also sustained damage during the storm.

Warnings and outlook

An amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday and will remain until 9pm Sunday, with gusts exceeding 80mph reported. A yellow rain warning is in place for the North East.

Pascal Lardet, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Storm Boelo is moving as expected across the country. So far the effects have been mostly felt around coastal areas with some flooding impacts reported in the south west. Stormy weather is expected to continue affect Scotland on Sunday and into the start of the week.”

Lardet warned of further coastal flooding on Monday evening due to an approaching storm system, with large waves and rising tides increasing the risk to low-lying coastal roads. He urged the public to remain vigilant and stay away from flooded promenades and crashing waves.

The flood risk remains elevated through Sunday and into next week. STV News reported that it has contacted Geraldo’s for further comment.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the season to impact Scotland, indicating an active storm period.
Coastal businesses and homes have suffered flooding and damage, with some residents reporting water levels unseen in decades.
Travel disruption and power outages continue as warnings remain in place.

Background

Scotland’s west coast is frequently affected by Atlantic storms, but the combination of high winds, heavy rain, and spring tides can cause severe coastal flooding. The Met Office issues colour-coded warnings to alert the public. Storm Boelo follows an earlier named storm this year.

What to Watch

The full extent of damage to businesses in Largs, including the ice cream shop whose owner had not been able to enter.
Further coastal flooding expected from Monday evening through Tuesday as another storm system arrives.
Potential river and surface water flooding in northern Scotland due to continued heavy rain.

Sources

‘Heartbreaking’: Coastal areas flooded overnight as Storm Boelo hits Scotland · STV News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedStorm Boelo brought widespread flooding to coastal towns across Scotland overnight.STV News: “Storm Boelo brought widespread flooding overnight to coastal towns across Scotland.”
Partly supportedLargs, Dumbarton, Rothesay and Skelmorlie were among the worst-affected towns.STV News: “Heavy rainfall has caused coastal and surface flooding in towns including Largs, Dumbarton and Rothesay on the west coast.”
SupportedGusts exceeding 80mph were forecast or reported as Scotland faced the storm.STV News: “Largs is among the towns deluged during the second named storm of the year as Scotland faces gusts exceeding 80mph, travel disruption and power outages.”
SupportedThe amber wind warning remains in force until 9pm on Sunday.STV News: “An amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday night, and will remain in place until 9pm on Sunday”
SupportedAn amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday.STV News: “An amber wind warning came into force at 9pm on Saturday night”
SupportedThe yellow rain warning affects the North East.STV News: “with a yellow warning for rain affecting the North East.”
SupportedStorm Boelo is the second named storm of the year.STV News: “Largs is among the towns deluged during the second named storm of the year”
SupportedGeraldo’s owner said, “26 years of being here and it’s the highest it’s ever been.”STV News: ““26 years of being here and it’s the highest it’s ever been,” the owner said in the footage.”
SupportedGeraldo’s owner said they were standing in a doorway trying to protect their businesses and called the situation heartbreaking.STV News: ““We’re standing here in a doorway trying to protect our businesses from this disaster. It’s just heartbreaking. It really is.”
SupportedShore Road in Skelmorlie was closed after seawater flooded the coastline near homes.STV News: “In North Ayrshire, Shore Road in Skelmorlie was closed after seawater flooded the coastline near homes.”
SupportedGourock’s outdoor pool sustained damage during the storm.STV News: “Meanwhile, Gourock’s outdoor pool has also sustained damaged during the storm.”
SupportedLardet warned that further coastal flooding was likely on Monday evening due to another storm system, with large waves and rising tides increasing the risk to low-lying coastal roads.STV News: ““On Monday evening, further coastal flooding impacts are likely starting in the southwest and around most of Scotland through Tuesday due to a further storm system. We expect to see large waves and rising tidal levels increase the likelihood of flooding to low-lying coastal roads”