TransPennine and Avanti urge passengers to avoid non-essential trips as Storm Boelo approaches

Storm Boelo is set to bring gusts exceeding 80 mph and heavy rain to the northern United Kingdom this weekend. This marks the second named storm of the 2026 season, following Storm Austen which struck the southwest of England on Friday.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning, its second highest level of alert, for Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle. This warning is active from 9 p.m. on Saturday until 9 p.m. on Sunday. A separate amber warning covers the northeast of Northern Ireland from 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.

Widespread travel disruptions are anticipated on both rail and ferry services. TransPennine Express has advised passengers to avoid all but essential journeys on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast has strongly urged travelers not to proceed north of Preston on Sunday.

Grid operators warn that the power outages seen in the southwest could recur in the northern amber warning zones. On Friday, 31,000 homes in the southwest lost electricity. By Saturday morning, more than 3,700 properties in that region remained without power according to National Grid data.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill identified the winds as the primary hazard. He stated that gusty winds will whip across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland, strengthening toward the evening. Burkill noted that while temperatures will be slightly above the seasonal average, the combination of wind and rain will create uncomfortable conditions.

The storm arrives after a year of extreme weather events. The UK recorded its hottest summer on record this year, featuring five heatwaves and 40 days above 30 C. At a summit on the summer's wildfires, Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned that the country could face a winter of greater flooding. He described the current climate as one where unexpected events are becoming increasingly common.