Storm Boelo has prompted amber alerts as the storm’s strongest winds target northern parts of the UK, with officials warning of widespread disruption and dangerous conditions.
Forecasters said Storm Boelo will peak from Saturday evening, bringing gusts of 60 to 70 mph widely, and up to 80 mph in exposed coastal locations across Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England. Amber wind warnings took effect at 9 p.m. Saturday.
By Saturday, maximum gusts of 75 mph had already been observed at South Uist Range in the Western Isles, according to the Met Office, which also issued several yellow warnings for heavy rain.
The storm follows Storm Austen, the season’s first named system, which swept through on Friday. Gusts reached 76 mph at St Mary’s Airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74 mph at Aberporth in southwest Wales and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall.
Since 8 a.m. Saturday, downpours delivered 72 mm of rain at White Barrow in Wiltshire, and 43 mm at both Cwm Dyli in North Wales, just south of the Snowdon range, and Inveruglas on the west shore of Loch Lomond in Scotland.
Hundreds of homes in southwest England remained without electricity on Saturday evening after Storm Austen. The National Grid said power had been restored to 131,225 properties by 7 p.m.
An amber wind warning, the Met Office’s second-highest level, is in place across Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle from 9 p.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday. Another amber alert covers northeast Northern Ireland from 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.
Officials warned Storm Boelo poses a danger to life from flying debris and large waves, urging people to stay indoors where possible. The amber zones sit within broader yellow wind warnings that stretch south into parts of England and North Wales and cover all of Northern Ireland.
By 8 p.m. Saturday, the Environment Agency had 58 flood alerts in force across England, indicating possible flooding, along with 12 flood warnings where flooding is expected.
Jason Kelly, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said the storm will be felt across the UK this weekend, with the strongest winds and highest risk of disruption in the north. He noted that other parts of the country could also see gusts of 50 to 60 mph, with heavy rain adding further hazards, particularly in northern areas. People were advised to prepare for travel and power interruptions, secure outdoor items and monitor the latest forecasts.
Storm Boelo had already affected transport and events by Saturday afternoon. Dublin Airport reported weather-related disruption, with nine outbound and 10 inbound flights canceled by 4 p.m. Airlines also conducted several go-arounds, with most aircraft landing on second attempt and one diverting before returning later.
Rail operators urged residents living near tracks to secure garden items after images showed a trampoline under a train and a shed beside the line.
Storm Boelo disrupts travel and events
Visit Liverpool canceled the River of Light event, citing safety concerns related to high winds. London’s Diwali on the Square on Sunday was also canceled on the advice of independent health and safety experts.
Other popular sites due to close on Sunday include Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, which had planned to host its Fountains by Floodlight event.
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