Storm Boelo has wreaked havoc across Britain this weekend as wind speeds reached 85mph causing floods, power cuts and travel delays.
The second named storm of the autumn hit Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England on Saturday night.
Gusts of 60-70mph winds battered the warning zone after the Met Office issued an amber alert earlier this week. Exposed coastal areas, meanwhile, saw speeds of up to 80mph.
The extreme conditions have caused travel chaos, with railway lines shut due to damage and hundreds of holidaymakers left stranded after scores of flights across the country were cancelled.
Footage from Dalmarnock, County Durham, showed a stream of water flooding through the town early this morning, forcing dozens of shops into closure.
Elsewhere, a falling tree is confirmed to have killed a 60-year-old man in 60mph winds in Dumfries, Scotland, this morning.
Police Scotland said: ‘We were made aware of a 60-year-old man having been struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas around 10.30am on Sunday, 25 October, 2026. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.’
Largs, in Ayrshire, was left submerged with footage showing a huge stream gushing through the town.
Largs, in Ayrshire, Scotland, has been submerged by a large stream gushing through the town
Toni Dawson, who runs Geraldo’s ice cream and gift shop, was brought to tears after the store was ruined by the floods
Waves crash over the promenade due to the affects of storm Boelo on Sunday in Largs, Scotland
A store owner in the town was brought to tears after the property was ruined by the floods, forcing her to throw away her stock.
Toni Dawson, who runs Geraldo’s ice cream and gift shop, told Sky News: ‘Literally within half and hour the water is coming up so fast and the main street is flooded.
‘We’re trying to clear out as much of the debris as we can and board up the front of the shop and put some sandbags there.’
The Met Office said the succession of weather systems hitting the UK is being driven by the jet stream which is currently ‘particularly active’.
Meanwhile across the UK around 83,000 have reportedly been cut off from power, according to the Energy Networks Association.
It said: ‘The networks have been focussed on reconnecting customers this morning, though the continuing severe weather in some regions is limiting network engineers’ opportunities to safely start the work of restoring customers’ power today and access to certain areas remains difficult.’
In Aberfeldy, Northern Ireland, two women were injured and rushed to hospital after being hit by a fallen tree.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away from the eye of Storm Boelo, two people were taken to hospital in Streatham, south London, this afternoon after a large section of scaffolding was brought down by strong winds.
Further north, roughly 15 miles on the A66 remains closed in both directions between the A67 near Bowes in County Durham and A685 around Brough in Cumbria following strong winds.
Cumbria Police said it had received several reports overnight about ‘localised flooding and fallen trees blocking roads’, with a spokesman adding that work had begun to clear blockages and that motorists should ‘drive with care’.
And train companies across the country have warned that passengers could face ‘significant’ disruption on Sunday, urging people to avoid travelling by rail where possible.
Meanwhile airlines have cancelled flights and ferry operators have also suspended some services amid the severe weather.
Storm Boelo follows Austen, the first named of the season, which brought strong winds to parts of the UK on Friday.
Striking images show piles of bricks outside homes, smashed windows and damaged signage amid the blustery conditions.
Heavy downpours since 8am on Saturday have already seen rainfall totals of 72mm in White Barrow, Wiltshire, along with 43mm in both Cwm Dyli, just south of the Snowdon range in North Wales, and Inveruglas on the west shore of Loch Lomond, Scotland.
Hundreds of homes were still without power in south-west England after Austen hit the region on Friday where the National Grid said power had been restored to 131,225 properties by 7pm on Saturday.
An amber wind warning, the Met Office’s second most severe, is active across Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle from 9pm on Saturday to the same time on Sunday.
A further amber warning runs from 9pm on Saturday to 10am on Sunday in the north-east of Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile the Met Office reported a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves, with people advised to stay indoors as much as possible.
Concerned Brits have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the storm.
One person said on X: ‘I don’t think people understand the depth and size of storm Boelo.
‘It was so big it could be seen from space. That’s not normal for the UK.’
Another person added: ‘Oh my goodness what a horrible night! Hope sleep comes easy, the house is getting battered by rain and wind. Stay vigilant people.’
A giant chestnut tree is seen crashed into a house in Lancaster after Storm Boelo
A tree also smashed through a £600,000 home in Darlington, County Durham, this morning
Outdoor furniture was completely wrecked in Kevin Saunders’ back garden in Porchester, Hampshire
Sandbags can be seen outside shop doorways in Largs after Storm Boelo passed through the area
Large waves are seen in Gourock, Inverclyde, after Storm Boelo passed through the area on Sunday
Damage done by the tornado to Kevin Saunders back garden in Porchester, Hampshire is seen here on Sunday
King Charles walks back to Sandringham House after the church service despite the strong winds on Sunday morning
A tree crashed through a fence onto parked cars on Balmoral Terrace in Stockton, Teesside. It is pictured here on Sunday
A dog is seen walking in blustery condition on Wimbledon Common, southeast London, on Sunday
Flood water on the A8 in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, on Sunday. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said 32 flood warnings and 11 flooding alerts were active as of 7am
A third said: ‘How is this not a red weather warning? It’s brutal, never heard winds like this before, throw in thunder lightning, power cut.’
The amber warning sits within wider yellow wind warnings which extend south into parts of England and North Wales and cover the whole of Northern Ireland.
It marks the end of British Summer Time today, which saw clocks go back one hour.
The Environment Agency had issued 66 alerts for spots across England where flooding is possible by 7am on Sunday, as well as ten warnings stating that flooding is expected.
Cumbria Police said it had received ‘a number of calls overnight to localised flooding and fallen trees blocking roads’ right across the county, adding emergency services were working to clear the blockages but urged drivers to ‘drive with care’.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said 32 flood warnings and 11 flooding alerts were active as of 7am.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland, on Sunday, warned fallen trees had blocked roads across the country and advised drivers to ‘take extra caution’.
It said in a statement: ‘We would particularly draw your attention to closures on the Ballyrobin Road – both lanes currently impassable just after the junction with Seven Mile Straight – which may affect journeys to Belfast International Airport; and on the Glenshane Road, around half a mile from Castledawson roundabout, Derry bound.’
A police road closure on the A78 near Skelmorlie is seen on Sunday after Storm Boelo passed through the area
Blown over temporary traffic lights are pictured here in Skelmorlie on Sunday after Storm Boelo battered the area overnight
The A82 was blocked at Dumbuck Quarry on Sunday due to flooding caused by storm Boelo on Sunday in Dumbarton, Scotland
Cumbria Police said on Sunday it had received ‘a number of calls overnight to localised flooding and fallen trees blocking roads’ right across the county
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said: ‘Boelo will be felt across the UK this weekend, with the strongest winds and greatest potential for disruption in the north.
‘Amber warnings are in place across mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, where gusts of 60-70mph are expected widely, with the potential for 80mph in exposed coastal locations.
‘Strong winds will also affect other parts of the UK, with gusts of 50-60mph possible in places. Heavy rain will provide an additional hazard, particularly in the north, bringing the potential for further impacts.
‘People should prepare for the potential for disruption, particularly to travel and power supplies.’
Strong winds disrupted flights at Dublin Airport, where as of 4pm on Saturday nine outbound and 10 inbound flights had been cancelled by airlines because of weather issues.
Flights from Belfast City Airport departing for Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester and Kirkwall on Sunday morning were cancelled.
Network Rail shared images of a trampoline beneath a train and a shed by the tracks, in a call for those living near rail lines to secure their garden furniture firmly.
Visit Liverpool announced the region’s River of Light event, featuring illuminated artworks, had been cancelled ‘in the interests of safety’.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland, on Sunday, warned fallen trees had blocked roads across the country and advised drivers to ‘take extra caution’. The fallen tree in Stockton, Teesside, is seen here
Waves crash over the promenade due to the affects of storm Boelo on October 25, 2026 in Largs
A motorist drives through a large puddle in Liverpool on Saturday – Storm Boelo has now arrived
People in the rain on Millennium Bridge, London, on Saturday. Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen
People walk through the rain on Westminster Bridge, London, on Saturday as Storm Boelo battered Britain
London’s annual Diwali on the Square celebrations this Sunday were cancelled on independent health and safety experts’ recommendations in light of the storm.
Events and attractions announced closures for Sunday including Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, which was due to host its Fountains by Floodlight event on Sunday.
Intemperate weather will return later in the week with a yellow warning for strong winds with possibly damaging gusts running from 3am on Tuesday to midnight.
A third storm could hit Britain in four days with more gales and heavy rain on the way tomorrow – in the wake of 85mph Storm Boelo which caused chaos over the weekend.
The third successive spell of wet and windy weather, which also follows Storm Austen – the first named storm of the autumn – on Friday, could be named Storm Chloe.
Rain is due to sweep in from the west tomorrow. Into the evening and into Tuesday, winds could gust at up to 60mph on western coasts of England and Wales, accompanied by more heavy rain, particularly in northern areas.
The highest winds are likely in the west and north but strong gusts of up to 40mph are also expected along the South Coast and in London.
A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘The latest outlook remains unsettled initially, with further wind and rain, and we are keeping an eye on another area of low pressure which could bring more wind and rain, particularly across northern parts of the UK on Tuesday.
‘This is followed by signs of quieter conditions for many later in the week.’
Coastal gales are forecast on English Channel and Irish Sea coasts on Monday evening and into Tuesday morning with gusts of up to 60mph.
The strongest winds could reach 50mph inland and even London could see gusts of over 40mph in the early hours of tomorrow.
The Environment Agency issued 11 flood warnings and 57 flood alerts in England this afternoon, mostly in coastal areas and also at Keswick Campsite, Cumbria. There were four flood warnings and 15 flood alerts in Wales.
Transport disruption included 22 cancelled flights at Leeds Bradford Airport, while train services on the East Coast Mainline were disrupted by a fallen tree damaging overhead wires.
In its forecast for later in the week, the Met Office said: ‘Tuesday remains windy with rain in the north at first. Sunshine and showers follow on Wednesday.
‘Thursday brings a quieter spell for many, before rain edges into the far northwest later.’
But calmer weather is set to follow through next weekend and into the start of November, with ‘drier than normal conditions for most’ and the ‘potential for cold nights with some frost’.
