Storm Boelo brings 80 mph gusts to UK north this weekend

Wind speeds exceeding 80 mph are forecast for parts of the northern United Kingdom this weekend. Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the 2026 season, is moving in to bring heavy rain and strong gusts. It follows Storm Austen, which hit the southwest of England on Friday and is now moving eastward.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle. This alert covers the period from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 9 p.m. on Sunday. A separate amber warning applies to the northeast of Northern Ireland from 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Forecasters have urged residents to stay indoors due to risks from flying debris and crashing waves.

A yellow warning for wet and windy conditions covers the entire northern region from midday Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday. Additional heavy rain warnings affect Wales and parts of western and southern England from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Travel disruption is expected on ferries and trains. TransPennine Express has advised passengers to avoid all but essential journeys on Saturday and Sunday.

Avanti West Coast has strongly urged travelers not to go north of Preston on Sunday. The Met Office cautioned that the power cuts seen in the southwest could be repeated in the northern amber warning areas. On Friday, 31,000 homes in the southwest lost electricity. By Saturday morning, more than 3,700 remained without power according to the National Grid.

Alex Burkill, a meteorologist at the Met Office, identified the winds as the primary concern. He stated that strong gusty winds would whip across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland during the day, strengthening toward the evening. Temperatures will be slightly above the seasonal average, but the combination of wind and rain will make conditions feel unpleasant.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the changing weather patterns at a summit on record wildfires on Friday. He warned that the UK could face a winter of greater flooding. Burnham said the country is living in a world where unexpected events are becoming more common. He denied that the government was playing catch-up on civil preparedness. The UK experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with five heatwaves and 40 days above 30 degrees Celsius.