Third storm forecast for north of Scotland on Tuesday

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said on 25 October 2026 that it is actively preparing for a third storm in less than a week, forecast to impact the north of Scotland on Tuesday¹. The network operator is still responding to widespread damage caused by Storm Boelo's gale-force winds, with gusts up to 85mph felt in some parts of the north of Scotland¹.

As of 7pm on 25 October, more than 54,000 customers had their electricity restored, and 38,000 homes remained without power¹. SSEN said it expects the vast majority of customers who remain off supply overnight to have their power restored tomorrow, but anticipates that it will be Tuesday before all customers affected by Storm Boelo have their electricity restored¹. The company said the sustained strength of the winds, combined with the extent of infrastructure damage and challenges accessing faults due to fallen trees and flooding on the road network, means repairs will take some time¹.

The forecast third storm is expected to bring another period of high winds and heavy rain, particularly in western and northern regions¹. SSEN said its established resilience plans have been enacted to ensure it is prepared to respond to any additional damage to its network¹. A large welfare operation is being prepared for mobilisation tomorrow morning when wind speeds have dropped sufficiently, with vans heading to affected communities; SSEN said information on locations and opening times is being shared on its Facebook and BlueSky social media channels (@ssencommunity) and via local resilience partners¹.

Nik Wheeler, Head of Customer Operations - SHEPD at SSEN, said:

SSEN said that, before the storm arrived, text messages were sent to more than 220,000 of its more vulnerable customers with help and advice on what to do if they lose power, and telephone calls were made to hundreds of the most vulnerable people in affected areas¹. On support payments, SSEN said customers without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person for every day without power, to cover the cost of food and drink, and that people should keep hold of their receipts and claim costs back at www.ssen.co.uk/stormclaim¹. Customers registered for its Priority Services can claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation if they are without power for more than 24 hours, and if a power cut is estimated to last beyond 48 hours, all customers can benefit from this support¹.

SSEN listed the groups eligible for its free Priority Services as people who are deaf or hard of hearing, have a disability, live with children under five, are blind or partially sighted, have a chronic illness, use medical equipment or aids reliant on electricity, or are over 60¹. It asked customers to save the emergency power cut number, 105, to report any loss of supply or damage to the electricity network, and said anyone who sees damage to its equipment should stay back, not touch it and report it by calling 105 or via its Power Track website¹. It also encouraged customers to visit its Power Track map to track the progress of faults in their area¹.

Why it matters for households

Households in the north of Scotland, particularly in western and northern regions, face the prospect of further high winds and heavy rain on Tuesday while some are still without power from Storm Boelo¹. SSEN has said it anticipates all customers affected by Storm Boelo will have their electricity restored by Tuesday, the same day the third storm is forecast to arrive¹. Households without power for more than 12 hours are entitled to £30 per person per day for food and drink under SSEN's support package, and those registered for Priority Services may claim reasonable costs for alternative accommodation after 24 hours without power¹. SSEN advises customers to save the number 105 to report a loss of supply or damage to its network, and to stay back from damaged equipment¹. The storms and snow hub sets out wider household preparation for severe weather, and Preparing Your Home and Garden for High Winds covers securing property ahead of high winds.

What happens next

SSEN said its welfare operation is due to mobilise tomorrow morning, 26 October, once wind speeds have dropped sufficiently, with vans heading to affected communities and locations shared through its social media channels and local resilience partners¹. Restoration work is expected to continue into the evening of 25 October where safe, resuming from the early hours of 26 October, with all Storm Boelo customers anticipated to be back on supply by Tuesday¹. The third storm is forecast to impact the north of Scotland on Tuesday¹. No further detail on the timing, track or severity of that storm has been reported.