Storm Boelo shuts down northern UK travel with 80mph gusts
Amber warnings cover Scotland and northern England as wind speeds reach 75mph in the Western Isles.
By Mykola Bondarenko ·
Wind speeds of 75mph were recorded in the Western Isles on Saturday, marking the arrival of Storm Boelo. The storm is the second named system of the season to strike the United Kingdom. It follows Storm Austen, which brought high winds to parts of the country earlier in the week.
Amber weather warnings are active from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday for mainland Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle. A separate amber warning covers the northeast of Northern Ireland until 10am on Sunday. These zones are surrounded by yellow wind warnings that extend into parts of England and North Wales.
Forecasters expect widespread gusts between 60 and 70mph, with exposed coastal areas potentially reaching 80mph. Jason Kelly, chief forecaster at the Met Office, stated that the storm will be felt across the UK but that the strongest winds and disruption will occur in the north. He advised people to stay indoors to avoid flying debris and crashing waves.
Transport networks have already felt the impact. Dublin airport cancelled 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.
Public events have been cancelled for safety reasons. Visit Liverpool called off the River of Light event, which features illuminated artwork. In London, Diwali on the Square celebrations scheduled for Sunday were cancelled following advice from health and safety experts. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire also closed, with Fountains by Floodlight being called off.
Rainfall levels have been substantial since 8am on Saturday. White Barrow in Wiltshire recorded 72mm of rain, while Cwm Dyli in North Wales and Inveruglas in Scotland both recorded 43mm. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for possible flooding in England by 8pm on Saturday, alongside 12 warnings for expected flooding in specific locations.
Power issues from the previous storm are also being resolved. Hundreds of homes in southwest England remained without power after Storm Austen, though the National Grid reported that power had been restored to over 131,000 properties by 7pm on Saturday.
Source: The Guardian
