Storm Boelo: How to Check Forth Road Bridge Wind Restrictions and Plan Your Journey

Updated October 25, 2026: Storm Boelo is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to Scotland, and the official bridge pages do not all show the same status. Traffic Scotland’s detailed incident entry and the Forth Bridges control page report the Forth Road Bridge closed to all traffic and pedestrians, while a Traffic Scotland overview page says “Open.” Treat the crossing as unavailable until the live operator and road signs confirm otherwise. Check again immediately before departure because wind restrictions can change quickly.

Current Forth Road Bridge status during Storm Boelo

Traffic Scotland’s detailed incident record says the A9000 Forth Road Bridge is closed in both directions to all traffic and pedestrians because of adverse weather. The record lists a start time of 9:01 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and was last updated at 12:48 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. Scotland was on British Summer Time (BST, UTC+01:00) at the Saturday start, so that start time was 20:01 UTC. On Sunday, Scotland was on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00), so the update time was 12:48 GMT (12:48 UTC). The incident record gives no expected reopening time and no diversion details.

The Forth Bridges control page also labels the Forth Road Bridge “Closed” and says high winds have closed it to vehicles and pedestrians. However, the live information is inconsistent: Traffic Scotland’s bridge overview currently labels the Forth Road Bridge “Open” while listing forecast restrictions, and the separate Forth Road Bridge information page was last updated at 10:30 a.m. GMT and said pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport could use it. These pages do not agree. Do not interpret a summary label or an earlier update as proof that the crossing has reopened. Check the Forth Bridges control page and the Traffic Scotland incident list again, follow signs and police directions, and call Bridge Control at 0131 319 3083 if the live information is still unclear.

Also distinguish the Forth Road Bridge from the Queensferry Crossing. The Queensferry Crossing is the M90 motorway route; the Forth Road Bridge has separate access rules and status notices. The official Forth Bridges access chart says ordinary general traffic, including private cars and HGVs, is not normally authorized on the Forth Road Bridge. Buses, taxis, some other listed road users, pedestrians, and cyclists have different access rules. A weather forecast phrase such as “open to cars only” should not be treated as permission for a private car to use the bridge. Check the operator’s current notice before relying on any exception.

Storm warning times and the October clock change

Traffic Scotland’s amber wind warning notice lists the warning for Scotland from 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, through 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. These are Scotland times. At the start, Scotland was on BST (UTC+01:00), making the start 20:00 UTC on October 24. The U.K. clocks went back at 2:00 a.m. BST on Sunday, October 25, to 1:00 a.m. GMT. The warning ended at 9:00 p.m. GMT (UTC+00:00) on October 25, which is 21:00 UTC. The date-specific offset matters when comparing alerts, operator updates, and a journey planned across midnight.

The Met Office named Storm Boelo on October 22. Its warning coverage and timing can change as the storm develops, so check the current warning for the places at both ends of your trip rather than relying on an earlier forecast or a national headline.

How to check restrictions before you travel

1. Check the weather warning for your route

Open the Met Office weather warnings and check the warning map for your departure point, crossing, and destination. Read the warning’s valid dates and times, and note whether it is amber or yellow. The warning is not a bridge-opening schedule: it tells you about weather risk, while the bridge operator decides which restrictions are in force. Recheck if you plan to travel later in the day.

2. Check both the detailed incident and the bridge operator’s live board

On Traffic Scotland’s current incidents page, search for “Forth Road Bridge” and read the incident description, last-updated time, direction, delay, expected duration, and diversion field. Then compare that entry with the bridge restrictions page and the Forth Bridges control board. Separate a current restriction from a forecasted restriction; forecast windows are approximate and may say what could happen, not what is happening now.

For this Storm Boelo update, Traffic Scotland’s detailed incident says the bridge is closed to all users and lists the expected duration as unknown. The bridge overview’s “Open” label conflicts with that detailed closure and with the operator control board. Treat that mismatch as unresolved, not as a safe signal to proceed. Look for a newer timestamp, use the live traffic map and radio, and obey any variable-message signs at the approach.

3. Match the restriction to your vehicle or travel mode

Wind controls may affect only certain users at first, then tighten or ease as conditions change. High-sided vehicles, caravans, trailers, motorcycles, buses, pedestrians, and cyclists may have different rules. A speed limit can also be introduced without closing the whole crossing. Check the exact bridge name and vehicle category rather than assuming a restriction on one crossing applies to the other.

Traffic Scotland’s forecast table is not a substitute for the current closure notice. For an ordinary car journey across the Forth, check the M90 Queensferry Crossing separately; it is a different bridge with its own wind controls. The Forth Bridges control page reports restrictions there as well, including a closure for double-decker buses and a speed restriction. Do not assume that the alternate crossing is open to every vehicle or that it will remain available.

4. Decide whether to delay, reroute, or cancel

Traffic Scotland’s detailed Forth Road Bridge incident currently provides no diversion or reopening time. Do not invent a detour from a map or assume another bridge will be unaffected. If your vehicle is not permitted, the bridge is closed, the route information conflicts, or the weather warning makes the trip unsafe, delay the journey if possible. Use another crossing only after its live status confirms that your vehicle can use it and the full approach route is open.

Police Scotland advises road users to avoid unnecessary travel during the amber warning and consider delaying until conditions improve. If travel is essential, plan an alternate option before leaving, keep a charged phone, allow extra time, and carry enough fuel, warm clothing, food, and water in case of a delay. Do not ignore closure signs. In heavy rain, spray reduces visibility and stopping distances can be at least twice those on dry roads, according to the official advice.

Where to get the next update

• Traffic Scotland current incidents for closure details, update times, and expected duration.
• Traffic Scotland bridge restrictions and forecasts for restrictions by crossing.
• Forth Bridges live control board and wind and weather guidance for operator updates and Bridge Control contact details.
• Police Scotland’s Storm Boelo travel advice for safety guidance.
• GOV.UK clock-change dates to verify the U.K. time-zone transition on October 25, 2026.

For this check, the most specific current notice says the Forth Road Bridge is closed to vehicles and pedestrians, but official status pages conflict. Confirm the live operator message immediately before travel. If that conflict remains, call Bridge Control or postpone the crossing instead of treating an older “Open” label or a forecast window as clearance.