Gusts hit 75mph as second storm arrives
Storm Boelo triggered travel delays and event cancellations across the north of the UK on Saturday.
By Tyler Khalil ·
A second named storm arrived on Saturday, bringing high winds and rain to the north of the United Kingdom. The system, labeled Boelo, followed Storm Austen which struck the previous day. Meteorologists confirmed that the strongest gusts would hit after dark.
The Met Office placed amber weather warnings in force for specific regions. These zones included all of mainland Scotland, the far north of England down to Carlisle, and the northeast of Northern Ireland. The alerts ran from 9 p.m. on Saturday until 9 p.m. on Sunday. Northern Ireland had a separate window ending at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Yellow warnings covered the rest of Northern Ireland and extended south into parts of England and North Wales.
Wind speeds reached 75 mph at the South Uist Range in the Western Isles. Similar gusts were recorded in the Highland and Eilean Siar regions. Forecasters predicted that exposed coastal areas could see speeds reach 80 mph. The agency also issued rain warnings, noting that heavy downpours had already accumulated substantial rainfall totals.
Transport networks faced immediate disruption. Dublin airport cancelled nine outbound flights and ten inbound flights by 4 p.m. on Saturday. Six other inbound flights aborted their landings, with five succeeding on a second attempt and one diverting to a different airport. Network Rail warned residents to secure garden furniture after sharing photos of a trampoline and a shed near the tracks.
Public events were cancelled for safety. Visit Liverpool scrapped the River of Light exhibition of illuminated artwork. In London, organizers called off the annual Diwali on the Square celebration scheduled for Sunday. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire also closed their doors for the day.
Jason Kelly, the chief forecaster for the Met Office, advised people to stay indoors to avoid flying debris. He urged the public to plan ahead for travel and monitor the latest forecasts. The storm is expected to peak in the north, where the potential for disruption is highest.
Rainfall data from Saturday morning showed 72 mm of rain at White Barrow in Wiltshire. Cwm Dyli in North Wales and Inveruglas in Scotland both recorded 43 mm. The Environment Agency issued 58 alerts for possible flooding in England by 8 p.m. on Saturday. Another 12 warnings indicated that flooding was expected in specific locations.
