Storm Boelo: 80 mph gusts halt northern UK operations

Storm Boelo swept across the United Kingdom on Saturday, bringing strong winds and widespread disruption to travel and public events. The Met Office issued amber weather warnings that took effect at 9 pm on Saturday, covering mainland Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle. A separate alert covered the northeast of Northern Ireland from 9 pm on Saturday until 10 am on Sunday.

Forecasters expected wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph in the warning zones, with speeds potentially reaching 80 mph at exposed coastal sites. Before the amber warnings fully took hold, maximum gusts of 75 mph were already recorded in the South Uist Range, the Highlands, and the Eilean Siar regions of Scotland.

Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the season, following Storm Austen, which hit parts of the UK on Friday. During that earlier system, gusts of 76 mph were measured at St Mary’s airport in the Isles of Scilly. Other readings included 74 mph at Aberporth in southwest Wales and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. By 7 pm on Saturday, the National Grid reported that power had been restored to more than 131,000 properties in southwest England.

Heavy rain accompanied the wind, with 72 mm recorded at White Barrow in Wiltshire since 8 am on Saturday. Cwm Dyli in North Wales and Inveruglas on the west shore of Loch Lomond both recorded 43 mm. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for possible flooding across England by 8 pm on Saturday, along with 12 warnings indicating that flooding was expected in specific locations.

Jason Kelly, the Met Office chief forecaster, said the storm would be felt across the UK, with the strongest winds in the north. He advised people to stay indoors to avoid flying debris and crashing waves, and to secure loose items outside. Kelly urged the public to plan ahead for travel and monitor the latest forecasts.

Disruption was immediate at Dublin airport, where airlines canceled nine outbound and ten inbound flights as of 4 pm on Saturday. Six inbound flights performed go-arounds, with five landing on a second attempt and one diverting to another airport. 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 reasons. Visit Liverpool announced that the River of Light event had been called off, as were the Diwali on the Square celebrations in London. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire also closed on Sunday, with the latter canceling its Fountains by Floodlight event.