What is catastrophic wind blow?
Catastrophic wind blow is extreme wind that causes a threat to life and property.
Catastrophic wind blow events can cause major problems for forests and society such as:
- uprooting and breaking trees
- preventing emergency services access
- disrupting electricity, water, phone, gas services and public transport
While catastrophic wind blow events are rare, their frequency, scale and location are unpredictable.
Past catastrophic wind blow events in Scotland
| Date | Region affected | Volume of wind blown timber (million cubic metres) |
| January 1953 | North-east Scotland | 1.8 |
| January 1968 | Central Scotland | 1.64 |
The wind blow contingency plan
The Scottish Windblow Contingency Plan details the strategy for dealing with catastrophic wind blow events in Scottish forests. It covers:
- the processes that are triggered when winds of ≥80 and ≥90 mph are forecast
- the steps that should be taken to prepare for potentially catastrophic wind blow events
- the responses that will occur after a potentially catastrophic wind blow event
- information about the forest planning measures that can increase the resilience of forests to storm events
Please note, due to COVID-19 any actions needed by this plan will follow Scottish Government and Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guidelines at the time of the event and during the following operational phase of the plan.