Boelo gusts to top 80mph in north
Rail operators are cancelling journeys and warning of power cuts as the second named storm of the season arrives.
By Larissa Bell ·
The United Kingdom is facing its second named storm of the season as severe weather systems continue to test infrastructure across the northern regions. Storm Boelo is expected to bring high winds and heavy precipitation to the area over the weekend.
Storm Austen struck the south-west of England on Friday and has since moved eastward. Boelo is now tracking into the north, with forecasts predicting gusts that may exceed 80mph. The Met Office issued an amber warning for Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle. This warning is in effect from 9pm on Saturday until the same time on Sunday. A separate amber warning covers the north-east of Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 10am Sunday.
A broader yellow warning for wet and windy conditions covers the entire northern part of the UK from midday Saturday to 9pm Sunday. Another warning for heavy rain applies to Wales and parts of western and southern England from 11am to 11pm on Saturday. The Met Office advised people to stay indoors due to the risk of flying debris and crashing waves.
TransPennine Express has advised passengers to avoid non-essential travel on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast has urged travelers not to go north of Preston on Sunday. The Met Office warned that power cuts seen in the south-west could repeat in the northern amber areas. At one point on Friday, 31,000 homes in the south-west lost electricity. More than 3,700 homes remained without power on Saturday morning.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, identified the winds as the primary concern. He stated that strong gusts would sweep across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland, strengthening as evening approaches. Temperatures are expected to remain slightly above the seasonal average, but the combination of wind and rain will make conditions feel unpleasant.
Winds are forecast to peak from Saturday evening. The wet weather is expected to clear overnight in many areas, though rain will persist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the recent record wildfires on Friday. He warned that the UK could face a winter of greater flooding. He noted that unexpected events are becoming more common, while denying that the government is lagging on civil preparedness.
The storm follows a year of extreme weather conditions. The UK experienced its hottest summer on record, marked by five heatwaves and a record 40 days above 30C. Human-driven climate change continues to influence rainfall patterns and conditions globally. The current system adds to the strain on a grid and rail network already tested by recent storms.
