Storm Chandra Disrupts Scottish Football With Multiple Postponements

Scottish football fans braced for a dramatic Tuesday night on January 27, 2026, as Storm Chandra swept across the country, leaving a trail of postponed fixtures and battered pitches in its wake. Instead of a full slate of cup and league action, only a handful of determined squads managed to take the field, while others saw their hopes for progress dashed—at least temporarily—by the unrelenting Scottish weather.

It was a night that began with anticipation, with six matches scheduled, including four KDM Evolution Trophy quarter-finals and two League 2 contests. But by midday, the writing was on the wall. Fierce winds at Arbroath’s Gayfield Stadium and relentless rainfall elsewhere forced officials to call off three of the evening’s games. The culprit? None other than Storm Chandra, already the third named storm of 2026, and a force that has made its presence felt across Scottish football.

Let’s break down the chaos. The much-anticipated Scottish Challenge Cup tie between Arbroath and Airdrieonians was postponed due to high winds at Gayfield. Supporters who braved the elements were left disappointed, as safety concerns took precedence. According to the official announcement, “Arbroath’s Scottish Challenge Cup tie with Airdrieonians was postponed due to high winds at Gayfield Stadium.” For Arbroath, it’s another frustrating interruption in a season already marked by weather-related setbacks. The club and its fans now wait for news of a rescheduled date, with both sides eager to keep their cup dreams alive.

Elsewhere, Ayr United’s quarter-final trip to St Johnstone was also put on ice, this time thanks to a waterlogged pitch at McDiarmid Park. The Saints’ ground staff worked tirelessly to save the surface, but ultimately, the rain won out. The official line was clear: “Ayr United’s quarter-final visit to St Johnstone was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at McDiarmid Park.” It’s a bitter pill for both teams, especially with St Johnstone currently leading the Championship table by two points over Partick Thistle. The Saints are now looking ahead, hopeful their pitch will recover in time for a crucial league showdown with Partick Thistle on Friday night—a match that could have major implications for the title race.

The weather didn’t spare League 2 either. Stranraer’s home clash with Clyde at Stair Park was called off, again due to a saturated pitch. For Stranraer and Clyde, both chasing vital points in the lower reaches of the league, the delay is an unwelcome disruption to their momentum. As the official update stated, “Stranraer v Clyde in League 2 was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Stair Park.”

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. For those who managed to dodge the worst of Storm Chandra, the night delivered plenty of excitement. Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers both punched their tickets to the Challenge Cup semi-finals, making the most of their opportunities while others waited in the wings.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle edged out Stenhousemuir 1-0 in a tense encounter between the top two sides in League 1. The outcome was hard-fought, with both teams knowing what was at stake. According to match reports, “Inverness Caledonian Thistle defeated Stenhousemuir 1-0 in a League 1 match.” The win propels Caley Thistle further into the cup spotlight, while Stenhousemuir is left to ponder what might have been.

Meanwhile, Raith Rovers faced off against Championship rivals Queen’s Park in Glasgow. After a 1-1 draw in regular time, the tie went to penalties, where Raith held their nerve to come out on top. The result? A place in the Challenge Cup semi-finals. As confirmed by multiple sources, “Raith Rovers beat Queen’s Park after a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw in Glasgow to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals.” The shoot-out drama kept fans on the edge of their seats, and Raith’s resilience under pressure will serve them well in the next round.

Over in League 2, Spartans delivered the performance of the night, thrashing East Kilbride 6-0 on their own turf. The emphatic victory opened up an eight-point gap at the top of the table for Spartans, putting them firmly in command of the promotion race. The facts speak for themselves: “Spartans extended an eight-point lead at the top of League 2 with a 6-0 win over second-top East Kilbride.” That kind of result sends a message to the rest of the division—Spartans are not just leading, they’re dominating.

Of course, this week’s chaos isn’t the first time the weather has meddled with the Scottish football calendar in 2026. Just three days earlier, on January 24, two SPFL fixtures—Dundee United v St Mirren in the Premiership and Montrose v Peterhead in League 1—were also postponed due to waterlogged pitches. As the storms keep coming, teams and supporters are learning to expect the unexpected. “On January 24, 2026, two SPFL matches were postponed due to waterlogged pitches: Dundee United vs St Mirren (Premiership) and Montrose vs Peterhead (League 1),” the official record notes.

And the rescheduling headaches don’t stop there. Motherwell’s clash with Aberdeen in the Premiership, initially set for January 27, has been pushed back to Sunday, February 15, at 14:30, at the request of both clubs. With fixture congestion mounting and the weather refusing to cooperate, league officials and clubs alike are working overtime to keep the season on track. “Motherwell v Aberdeen in the Premiership was postponed to Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 14:30, at the clubs’ request,” reads the latest update.

Looking ahead, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether St Johnstone’s pitch will recover in time for Friday’s showdown with Partick Thistle. With the Saints holding a narrow lead at the top of the Championship, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the match does go ahead, it could prove pivotal in the race for promotion—and, perhaps, redemption after this week’s weather-enforced frustration. In the meantime, St Johnstone is also eyeing a rescheduled Challenge Cup date with Ayr United, knowing that a semi-final berth is still within reach.

For now, Scottish football remains at the mercy of the elements. As Storm Chandra continues to batter the nation, fans, players, and officials are learning to roll with the punches. There’s no shortage of drama on or off the pitch this season, and with more storms in the forecast, the beautiful game in Scotland is sure to keep everyone guessing. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.