Storm Boelo Brings Amber Warnings and Travel Disruption to UK
Storm Boelo, the UK's second named storm of the season, triggered amber wind warnings across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England from Saturday evening, disrupting travel and events.
The story in focus
Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the UK season, brought amber wind warnings across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England from the evening of Saturday 24 October 2026, The Guardian reported. Gusts of 75mph were already recorded in the Western Isles, with flights cancelled at Dublin airport and events including Liverpool's River of Light called off.
- Amber wind warnings took effect at 9pm on Saturday 24 October 2026 across Scotland, the far north of England and north-east Northern Ireland
- The Met Office recorded a maximum gust of 75mph at South Uist Range in the Western Isles on Saturday
- The Environment Agency had issued 58 flood alerts and 12 warnings for England by 8pm on Saturday
- Nine outbound and 10 inbound flights were cancelled at Dublin airport as of 4pm on Saturday
- Hundreds of homes in south-west England remained without power after Storm Austen
Warnings and wind speeds
Amber wind warnings, the Met Office's second most severe level, covered mainland Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle from 9pm on Saturday until the same time on Sunday. A separate amber warning ran in north-east Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 10am Sunday, sitting within wider yellow wind warnings extending into England and North Wales.
The Met Office recorded a maximum gust of 75mph at South Uist Range in the Western Isles on Saturday. Chief forecaster Jason Kelly said gusts of 60-70mph were expected widely in the amber zone, with 80mph possible on exposed coasts and 50-60mph elsewhere in the UK. Rainfall since 8am Saturday reached 72mm at White Barrow in Wiltshire.
Travel, power and cancellations
At Dublin airport, airlines cancelled nine outbound and 10 inbound flights as of 4pm on Saturday because of weather, and six inbound flights performed go-arounds. Network Rail urged people living near rail lines to secure garden furniture after images showed a trampoline beneath a train and a shed by the tracks.
Hundreds of homes in south-west England were still without power after Storm Austen, the season's first named storm, hit on Friday; National Grid said power had been restored to 131,225 properties by 7pm Saturday. Visit Liverpool cancelled the River of Light event, and London's Diwali on the Square celebrations on Sunday were cancelled on independent health and safety experts' recommendations. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate also closed on Sunday.
Which areas of the UK were placed under amber wind warnings for Storm Boelo?
Amber warnings covered mainland Scotland, the far north of England down to Carlisle, and north-east Northern Ireland, running from Saturday evening 24 October into Sunday, according to the Met Office.
Sources & further reading
Help keep the record accurate. Send a correction.
