Amber warnings issued for Scotland and Northern England as gusts hit 75mph

The United Kingdom prepared for peak wind conditions Saturday night as amber alerts took effect across Scotland and northern England. The Met Office forecast gusts reaching 80mph on exposed coasts, while recording speeds of 75mph at the South Uist Range in the Western Isles. Amber warnings, the second most severe level, run from 9pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday across mainland Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle, with a separate warning for north-east Northern Ireland ending at 10am Sunday. Yellow warnings extend further south into parts of England and North Wales and cover all of Northern Ireland.

Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen, which struck the UK on Friday. Austen recorded 76mph at St Mary's airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74mph at Aberporth in south-west Wales, and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. National Grid reported restoring power to more than 131,000 properties by 7pm Saturday after hundreds of homes in south-west England were left without electricity. Rainfall since 8am Saturday reached 72mm at White Barrow in Wiltshire, with 43mm at Cwm Dyli in North Wales and 43mm at Inveruglas near Loch Lomond. The Environment Agency issued 58 flood alerts for England by 8pm Saturday alongside 12 warnings where flooding was expected.

Dublin Airport saw nine outbound and ten inbound flights cancelled by 4pm Saturday due to weather issues. Six inbound flights performed go-arounds; five landed on a second attempt and one diverted before returning. Network Rail shared images of a trampoline and a shed near the tracks and asked residents to secure garden furniture firmly. Visit Liverpool cancelled its River of Light event, while London's Diwali on the Square celebrations scheduled for Sunday were also called off following recommendations from independent health and safety experts.

Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said the storm would be felt across the UK, with the strongest winds and greatest potential for disruption in the north. He advised staying indoors to avoid flying debris and crashing waves, securing loose items outside, and monitoring forecasts. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, which had planned a Fountains by Floodlight event, closed on Sunday.

Amber warnings for mainland Scotland and northern England to Carlisle remain active until 9pm Sunday. The north-east Northern Ireland amber warning expires at 10am Sunday. Yellow wind warnings remain in effect across Northern Ireland, parts of England, and North Wales.