Full Breakdown
Storm Boelo: Widespread Disruption and Fatality Across the UK
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Sunday 25 October 2026, Storm Boelo swept across the United Kingdom, delivering wind gusts of up to 85 mph in Machrihanish (Argyll and Bute), 84 mph in Stornoway (Outer Hebrides) and Capel Curig (north Wales), and 80 mph on the Scottish islands of Islay and Tiree. The storm killed a 60-year-old man struck by a falling tree near Castle Douglas, according to Police Scotland.
Background & Context
Storm Boelo arrived only one day after Storm Austen, which had already produced gusts of up to 80 mph in south-west England on 23 October 2026. The back-to-back storms left the power network strained and prompted amber and yellow weather warnings from the Met Office for Scotland, northern England, northern Ireland and parts of Wales.
Data & Statistics
- The Energy Networks Association (ENA) reported 838,700 properties across the UK had experienced power cuts during the two storms.
- As of 15:00 GMT on 25 October, ENA said 161,400 properties remained without electricity.
- Northern Powergrid recorded 13,943 properties affected in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with 5,757 still without power.
- SSEN noted more than 30,000 homes without power in Scotland, while SPEN reported ?6,000 homes without electricity in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
- Wind gusts of 85 mph were measured in Machrihanish; 84 mph in Stornoway and Capel Curig; 80 mph on Islay and Tiree; 62 mph in the Glasgow region.
Impact on Travel and Services
- Rail: Network Rail confirmed flooded tracks, downed lines and fallen trees blocking routes between Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street, between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, and on the Carr Mill line near Wigan.
- Roads: Fallen trees closed the A1034 and A165 in East Yorkshire, the A78 near Skelmorlie (North Ayrshire) and numerous local roads in Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Kent.
- Flights: More than 20 flights from Leeds Bradford were cancelled; additional cancellations occurred at Dublin, Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
- Events: Visit Liverpool’s “River of Light” exhibition, Aintree’s Halloween Fun Day and several community festivals were cancelled for safety.
Official Statements & Responses
- Police Scotland said there were “no suspicious circumstances” surrounding the fatality and that a report would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
- SP Electricity North West explained that strong winds made it unsafe for engineers to climb overhead lines and set an expected restoration time of 6 pm on 27 October.
- SSEN warned that “Severe weather across our network will continue today and further disruption remains possible.”
- Northern Powergrid’s spokesperson described the damage to the electricity network and warned that conditions would persist throughout the afternoon and evening.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- ENA’s figure of 161,400 properties without power at 15:00 GMT differs from Northern Powergrid’s regional count of 13,943 properties and SSEN’s estimate of ?30,000 homes in Scotland, leaving the precise national outage count unclear.
- Overlap between the “more than 30,000 homes” reported for Scotland and the “?6,000 homes” in SPEN’s service area is not detailed.