Storm Boelo Forces Closures and Travel Halts Across Northern UK
Amber warnings cover Scotland and northern England as winds hit 80mph, prompting flight cancellations and event shutdowns.
By Tunde Bailey ·
Amber weather warnings took hold at 9pm on Saturday, signaling that the most severe winds of the season were arriving. The alerts covered mainland Scotland and the northern parts of England down to Carlisle until 9pm on Sunday. A separate zone in the north-east of Northern Ireland remained under amber status until 10am on Sunday. These areas sit within wider yellow warnings that extend south into parts of England and North Wales.
Forecasters predicted widespread gusts between 60 and 70mph, with exposed coastal spots reaching 80mph. Before the amber warnings fully kicked in, strong winds were already recorded in Scotland. The South Uist Range in the Western Isles, along with the Highland and Eilean Siar regions, measured maximum gusts of 75mph. Heavy rain accompanied the winds, with White Barrow in Wiltshire recording 72mm of precipitation since 8am on Saturday.
This is the second named storm of the season, following Storm Austen on Friday. That earlier system brought 76mph gusts to St Mary’s airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74mph to Aberporth in south-west Wales, and 71mph to Culdrose in Cornwall. Hundreds of homes in south-west England lost power after Austen hit, though the National Grid reported restoring electricity to over 131,000 properties by 7pm on Saturday.
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly warned that the storm would be felt across the UK, with the north facing the strongest winds. He advised people to stay indoors to avoid flying debris and crashing waves. Kelly also urged residents to secure loose items outside and plan travel ahead. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for possible flooding in England by 8pm on Saturday, plus 12 warnings for expected flooding in specific locations.
Transport and leisure activities saw immediate disruption. Dublin airport canceled nine outbound and ten inbound flights as of 4pm on Saturday. Six inbound flights performed go-arounds, with five landing on a second attempt and one diverting before returning. Network Rail shared images of a trampoline and a shed near the tracks, prompting a call for residents to secure garden furniture.
Several public events were canceled for safety. Visit Liverpool announced the River of Light event was off. In London, the Diwali on the Square celebrations scheduled for Sunday were called off following health and safety recommendations. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire also closed on Sunday, with the latter canceling its Fountains by Floodlight event.
The storm’s impact is concentrated in the north, where winds peak from Saturday night onward. Residents in the warning zones are bracing for the worst conditions, while those further south monitor yellow warnings. The Met Office continues to track the system as it moves through the region.
