Storm Boelo brings gusts of up to 85mph as amber warnings hold

Storm Boelo brought strong winds and heavy rain to the UK overnight into Sunday 25 October. Gusts of 85mph were recorded at Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland and at The Needles off the Isle of Wight.

The Met Office issued amber wind warnings for Saturday night and Sunday covering Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland and northern England. The amber warning for Northern Ireland ran until 10am on Sunday. In Scotland and northern England it ran until 9pm.

The warnings

Within the amber area, the Met Office forecast widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph, with up to 80mph possible on exposed coasts. The amber warnings sat inside wider yellow warnings that extended further south into England and north Wales and covered the whole of Northern Ireland. Gusts of 50 to 60mph were possible in those areas, and heavy rain was an added hazard, particularly in the north.

An amber warning means there is an increased likelihood of impacts such as damage to buildings, power cuts and disruption to travel. Met Office warnings combine how likely severe weather is with how much impact it could have, so the colour reflects both and not wind speed alone.

Power and travel

The Energy Networks Association said on Sunday morning that 82,600 customers were without electricity. Some 344,900 customers had been reconnected over the weekend. The association said continuing severe weather was limiting the chances for engineers to start repairs safely.

Rail services in Scotland were disrupted by flooding and fallen trees, with speed restrictions and some sections closed. Ferry services in Scotland were cancelled. Flooding closed several roads, including the A78 Inverkip Road in Greenock, the A77 at Lendalfoot in Ayrshire and a number of roads in Dumfries and Galloway. Ferry crossings on the Irish Sea were also cancelled.

After Storm Austen

Boelo followed Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, which brought strong winds on Friday. The Met Office recorded a gust of 76mph at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly, 74mph at Aberporth in Wales and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall.

The advice

The Met Office advised people to secure loose items outside, plan ahead before travelling and keep up to date with the forecast and warnings for their area. It advised staying indoors as much as possible in high winds and, for anyone going out, not walking or sheltering close to buildings and trees. Near the coast, it advised staying back from stormy seas and away from cliff edges, and calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard if someone is in trouble.

The week ahead

Unsettled weather is expected to continue into the new week, particularly in the north, as another area of low pressure approaches. A wind warning has already been issued for northern parts of the UK on Tuesday. The Met Office said there were signs of higher pressure becoming more influential towards the end of the week, which could bring more settled conditions to parts of the UK.