Storm Boelo: 80mph winds hit northern UK

Storm Boelo is bringing strong winds to the north of the UK this weekend.

The second named storm of the season moves in with gusts that may exceed 80 miles per hour. Heavy rain will accompany the winds across northern regions.

Rail operators have suspended non-essential travel to manage the risk. TransPennine Express advised against journeys on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast urged passengers to avoid traveling north of Preston on Sunday.

The Met Office issued an amber warning for Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle. This warning runs from 9pm Saturday until 9pm Sunday. A separate amber warning covers the north-east of Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 10am Sunday. Meteorologist Alex Burkill noted that winds will strengthen toward the evening.

Power outages remain a major concern for grid operators. The Met Office warned that cuts seen in the south-west could repeat in the northern amber zones. On Friday, 31,000 homes in the south-west lost electricity. More than 3,700 households were still without power on Saturday morning.

A large yellow warning for wet and windy conditions covers the entire north from midday Saturday to 9pm Sunday. Wales and parts of western and southern England face a heavy rain warning from 11am to 11pm on Saturday. Burkill described the conditions as pretty unpleasant, contrasting them with the warmer temperatures of recent weeks.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the weather at a summit on summer wildfires on Friday. He stated that the UK could face a winter of greater flooding. He denied that the government was playing catch-up on civil preparedness, noting that unexpected events are becoming more common.