Storm Boelo: 75 mph gusts recorded as amber warnings begin across Scotland

Amber wind warnings took effect across Scotland and northern England on Saturday night as Storm Boelo moved in.

The Met Office forecast widespread gusts of 60 to 70 mph, with exposed coastal sites potentially reaching 80 mph. Amber alerts covering mainland Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle run from 9pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday. A separate amber warning for north-east Northern Ireland expires at 10am Sunday. Yellow wind warnings extend further south into parts of England and North Wales and cover all of Northern Ireland. Gusts of 75 mph were recorded before the warnings took full effect at the South Uist Range in the Western Isles, and in Highland and Eilean Siar. Rain gauges logged 72 mm at White Barrow in Wiltshire since 8am Saturday, and 43 mm each at Cwm Dyli in North Wales and Inveruglas on Loch Lomond. The Environment Agency had issued 58 flood alerts and 12 warnings for England by 8pm Saturday.

Jason Kelly, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said the strongest winds and greatest potential for disruption would occur in the north. He advised people to stay indoors as much as possible, secure loose items outside, plan travel ahead, and monitor forecasts. Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the season, following Storm Austen on Friday. Austen brought 76 mph gusts to St Mary's airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74 mph at Aberporth in south-west Wales, and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. National Grid said it had restored power to more than 131,000 properties by 7pm Saturday, though hundreds of homes in south-west England remained without power.

Airlines cancelled nine outbound and ten inbound flights at Dublin airport as of 4pm Saturday. Six inbound flights performed go-arounds; five landed on a second attempt and one diverted before returning. Network Rail reported a trampoline and a shed near the tracks and asked residents to secure garden furniture. Visit Liverpool cancelled its River of Light event. The Diwali on the Square celebration in London, scheduled for Sunday, was also called off following advice from independent health and safety experts. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire, which had planned a Fountains by Floodlight event, closed on Sunday.