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More than 1,500 flights have been delayed and train services disrupted after Storm Boelo hit the UK with winds of up to 80mph, triggering “danger to life” weather warnings.
Flights to and from major UK airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have been delayed by an average of two hours amid severe weather conditions.
The Met Office issued amber weather warnings for far north of England, Scotland and the north-east of Northern Ireland on Saturday night.
It said gusts of 60-70mph were expected widely, with winds potentially reaching 80mph in exposed coastal locations.
Scotland’s environmental watchdog issued 29 flood warnings and 11 less severe flood alerts as Storm Boelo brought heavy rain and powerful winds to the country.
Ferry services between Ireland and Pembrokeshire have also been halted, while more than a dozen rail services have been cancelled on Scotland’s west coast.
The travel chaos comes immediately after Storm Austen caused disruption on Friday, leaving thousands of homes without power in Cornwall and forcing schools to close.
Several train operators impacted on Sunday
The following train operators are impacted with planned service alterations:
Avanti West Coast – advising to avoid travelling north of Preston todayCrossCountryGreat Western RailwayGreater AngliaLNER – advising to not travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen todayNorthernScotRailTransPennine Express – advising to only travel if essential todayTransport for Wales
Dan Haygarth25 October 2026 07:45
Mapped: Weather warnings currently in force in the UK
Weather warnings at 7:30am on 25 October (Met Office)
Dan Haygarth25 October 2026 07:39
More than 1,500 flights delayed as storm disrupts air and rail travel across UK
More than 1,500 flights to and from major UK airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have been delayed by an average of two hours amid severe weather conditions.
The delays were reported by flight-tracking website FlightAware as strong winds and heavy rain caused widespread disruption to transport networks.
National Rail warned that strong winds and flooding could severely disrupt train services, including those operated by ScotRail, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Northern and Greater Anglia.
People in the rain on Westminster Bridge, London. An amber weather warning is in place across Scotland, the north of England down to Carlisle and the north-east of Northern Ireland on Saturday (PA)
LNER cancelled nearly all services to and from Aberdeen and reduced trains serving Northallerton, Newcastle and Edinburgh to one per hour in each direction.
Passengers have been advised to check their journeys before travelling as severe weather continues to affect transport services across the country.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2026 07:30
Events and flights cancelled across Britain and Ireland
Liverpool’s River of Light event has been cancelled on Sunday (file picture) (Getty)
Storm Boelo has already caused widespread disruption.
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.
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”.
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.
Dan Haygarth25 October 2026 07:17
Amber warning in force as Storm Boelo brings 80mph gusts to parts of UK
Amber weather warnings have come into force as the worst of Storm Boelo hits parts of the UK, hours after the first named storm of the season battered the country.
The Met Office said winds peaked overnight with gusts of 60-70mph affecting areas in the warning zone, including Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, while gusts topped at more than 80mph in exposed coastal spots.
The island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland experienced 82mph winds at about 4am on Sunday, according to the forecaster.
The Met’s amber warnings came into force on Saturday at 9pm.
Maximum gust speeds of 75mph hit South Uist Range, Western Isles, Highland and Eilean Siar, Scotland, earlier on Saturday, according to the Met Office, which has also issued several yellow warnings for rain.
Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, which brought strong winds to parts of the UK on Friday.
Gusts of 76mph were recorded at St Mary’s Airport in the Isles of Scilly, with 74mph at Aberporth in south Wales and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall.
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 Storm 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.
Dan Haygarth25 October 2026 07:12
Oil tanker carrying 21 people issues distress alert amid stormy seas off Scotland
An oil tanker carrying 21 people issued a distress alert after encountering large swells about 350 nautical miles off the Isle of Mull on Saturday afternoon, authorities have revealed.
The vessel contacted HM Coastguard for assistance as severe weather battered parts of the UK.
A Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft was dispatched to investigate and established communication with the tanker, a spokesperson for the UK’s maritime authorities said.
“It was determined that there was no need for assistance, and that the vessel would continue with onwards passage,” the spokesperson said.
The authorities did not disclose the vessel’s flag state.
Meanwhile, severe weather has forced the cancellation of several events across the country and caused widespread travel disruption.
In Merseyside, the River of Light event was cancelled for a second consecutive day, while Knowsley Safari Park announced it would remain closed on Sunday because of “high winds”.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2026 07:00
Over 2,000 properties were without power in England
More than 2,000 properties in north-west England were without power on Saturday night due to the storm.
Met Office warned that strong winds could cause power cuts, flying debris, damage to buildings and trees, travel disruption and danger to life from large waves, the Met Office said.
People in the rain on Westminster Bridge, London. An amber weather warning is in place across Scotland, the north of England down to Carlisle and the north-east of Northern Ireland on Saturday (PA)
The Met Office urged people to stay inside as staying outside in high winds could make people “more vulnerable to injury”.
“Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees.”
Shweta Sharma25 October 2026 06:30
ScotRail suspends services as Storm Boelo causes major disruption
Several railway lines across western and northern Scotland have been closed as Storm Boelo brings dangerous winds and heavy rain.
Services south and west of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire were suspended from 9pm on Saturday, while the Oban and Mallaig lines were closed at around 10pm.
Further disruption is expected on Sunday, with the Kyle of Lochalsh to Achnashellach line and the railway between Wick and Helmsdale closed from the start of service.
ScotRail has also introduced speed restrictions across much of its network, which are expected to remain in place throughout Sunday.
The restrictions mean trains will operate at reduced speeds, resulting in longer journey times, delays and possible cancellations.
Some restrictions on the Far North Line between Inverness and Wick could remain in place until Monday morning.
Passengers have been advised to check their journeys before travelling and consider alternative arrangements where possible.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2026 06:00
Storm Boelo: Planes battle strong winds as they attempt to land at Heathrow
Storm Boelo: Planes battle strong winds as they attempt to land at Heathrow
Holly Bancroft25 October 2026 05:16
Nearly 30 flood warnings issued across Scotland amid heavy rain
Scotland’s environmental watchdog has issued 29 flood warnings and 11 less severe flood alerts as Storm Boelo brings heavy rain and powerful winds to the country.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warnings and alerts in place across Scotland amid concerns over rising water levels and flooding.
A yellow rain warning covering central parts of the Highlands, including Inverness, came into force at 9pm on Saturday and is expected to remain in place until 3pm on Sunday.
“Very strong westerly winds associated with Storm Boelo are expected, with fairly widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph and gusts to 80mph in exposed coastal areas,” the Met Office said.
“The strongest winds will initially affect western Scotland and the far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening and then spread eastwards overnight and through Sunday.”
The latest warnings come just a day after Storm Austen brought heavy rainfall to much of the UK.
Shweta Sharma25 October 2026 04:30