Storm Boelo plunges 31,000 northern homes into darkness as rail lines shut
The Met Office issues amber warnings for Scotland and northern England as winds are forecast to exceed 80mph this weekend.
By John Ferrari ·
Residents in northern Britain face a weekend of heavy rain and strong winds as Storm Boelo approaches. The storm is the second named event of the season. It follows Storm Austen, which hit the southwest on Friday.
The Met Office issued amber warnings for Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle. These warnings remain in effect from 9pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday. A separate amber warning covers the northeast of Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 10am Sunday.
Forecasters urge people to stay indoors due to the risk of flying debris and crashing waves. A larger yellow warning covers the entire northern region from midday Saturday to 9pm Sunday. This alerts residents to very wet and windy conditions.
Travel disruptions are expected on ferries and trains. TransPennine Express advised against non-essential journeys on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast strongly urged passengers to avoid travel north of Preston on Sunday.
Power outages are a primary concern for the grid operators. The Met Office noted that the south-west could see similar failures to those experienced during the last storm. At one point on Friday, 31,000 homes in the southwest were without electricity. More than 3,700 homes were still affected on Saturday morning.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, identified the winds as the main threat. He stated that gusts would strengthen across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland through the day. He added that the conditions would become "pretty unpleasant" as the winds peaked in the evening.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the weather pattern at a summit on Friday. He warned that the UK could face a winter of greater flooding. He acknowledged that unexpected events are becoming more common, while denying that the government is behind on civil preparedness.
