Storm Boelo brings strong winds and travel chaos to northern UK

Amber weather warnings came into effect on Saturday evening as Storm Boelo began to impact the United Kingdom. The Met Office indicated that the worst of the storm's winds would peak from Saturday night onward. Areas within the warning zone, which include Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, and the far north of England, are bracing for significant weather conditions. Forecasters expect widespread gusts between 60 and 70mph, with exposed coastal locations potentially seeing speeds reach 80mph.

The amber warnings, which represent the second most severe level of alert, were active from 9pm on Saturday until the same time on Sunday across mainland Scotland and the northern parts of England down to Carlisle. A separate amber warning covered the north-east of Northern Ireland from 9pm on Saturday until 10am on Sunday. These specific zones are surrounded by broader yellow wind warnings that extend south into parts of England and North Wales and cover the entirety of Northern Ireland.

Before the amber warnings took full effect, strong winds were already being recorded in Scotland. Maximum gust speeds of 75mph were measured at the South Uist Range in the Western Isles, as well as in the Highland and Eilean Siar regions. The Met Office also issued several yellow warnings for rain, noting that heavy downpours had already produced significant rainfall totals across the country.

Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the season, following Storm Austen, which brought strong winds to parts of the UK on Friday. During that earlier system, gusts of 76mph were recorded at St Mary’s airport in the Isles of Scilly. Other notable readings included 74mph at Aberporth in south-west Wales and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. Hundreds of homes in south-west England remained without power after the impact of Storm Austen, although the National Grid reported that power had been restored to over 131,000 properties by 7pm on Saturday.

Rainfall levels have also been substantial since 8am on Saturday. White Barrow in Wiltshire recorded 72mm of rain, while Cwm Dyli in North Wales and Inveruglas on the west shore of Loch Lomond in Scotland both recorded 43mm. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for areas across England where flooding was possible by 8pm on Saturday, in addition to 12 warnings indicating that flooding was expected in specific locations.

Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly stated that the storm would be felt across the UK, with the strongest winds and greatest potential for disruption occurring in the north. He advised that people should stay indoors as much as possible to avoid dangers from flying debris and crashing waves. Kelly urged the public to secure loose items outside, plan ahead for travel, and monitor the latest forecasts.

The storm has already caused significant disruption to transport and leisure activities. At Dublin airport, weather issues led airlines to cancel nine outbound and ten inbound flights as of 4pm on Saturday. Additionally, six inbound flights performed go-arounds, with five landing on the second attempt and one diverting to another airport before returning. Network Rail shared images of a trampoline and a shed near the tracks, prompting a call for residents to secure garden furniture firmly.

Several public events were cancelled in response to the weather. Visit Liverpool announced that the region’s River of Light event, which features illuminated artwork, had been cancelled for safety reasons. In London, the annual Diwali on the Square celebrations scheduled for Sunday were also called off following recommendations from independent health and safety experts. Other attractions that closed on Sunday include Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, which had planned to host its Fountains by Floodlight event.