Storm Boelo brings 80mph gusts to northern Britain

Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the season, bringing sustained high winds to the United Kingdom. The Met Office issued amber weather warnings that took effect at 9pm on Saturday. These alerts cover mainland Scotland, the far north of England down to Carlisle, and the north-east of Northern Ireland. Forecasters expect widespread gusts between 60 and 70 mph, with speeds potentially reaching 80 mph in exposed coastal areas.

Measurements recorded before the peak of the storm showed maximum gusts of 75 mph in the South Uist Range in the Western Isles. Similar speeds were detected in the Highland and Eilean Siar regions. This follows Storm Austen, which hit the country on Friday. During that earlier system, gusts of 76 mph were recorded at St Mary’s airport in the Isles of Scilly. The National Grid reported that power had been restored to more than 131,000 properties by 7pm on Saturday, though hundreds of homes in the south-west remained without electricity.

Heavy rainfall accompanied the winds, with White Barrow in Wiltshire recording 72mm of rain since 8am on Saturday. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for possible flooding across England by 8pm on Saturday. An additional 12 warnings indicated that flooding was expected in specific locations. Jason Kelly, the chief forecaster at the Met Office, advised the public to stay indoors to avoid flying debris and crashing waves.

Travel disruptions became apparent as the storm intensified. Dublin airport canceled nine outbound and ten inbound flights as of 4pm on Saturday. Six inbound flights performed go-arounds, with five landing on the second attempt and one diverting to another airport. Network Rail shared images of a trampoline and a shed near the tracks, urging residents to secure garden furniture firmly to prevent damage to the railway infrastructure.

Several public events were cancelled due to safety concerns. Visit Liverpool announced that the River of Light event, which features illuminated artwork, would not proceed. In London, the annual Diwali on the Square celebrations scheduled for Sunday were called off following recommendations from health and safety experts. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire also closed their doors on Sunday. The Fountains Abbey estate had planned to host its Fountains by Floodlight event, but the closure was part of a wider precautionary approach across the region.

The amber warnings remain active until 9pm on Sunday for the affected zones in mainland Scotland and northern England. A separate warning for the north-east of Northern Ireland expires at 10am on Sunday. Broader yellow wind warnings extend south into parts of England and North Wales, covering the entirety of Northern Ireland. Forecasters indicate that the worst of the winds are expected to peak from Saturday night onward.