Storm Boelo: amber wind warning for Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and northern England

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for strong winds ahead of Storm Boelo. It covers most of Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England.

When and what to expect

The warning runs from 9pm on Saturday 24 October 2026 until 9pm on Sunday 25 October. The Met Office forecasts widespread gusts of 60–70mph, and up to 80mph in exposed coastal areas. The strongest winds are expected to hit western Scotland and the north of Northern Ireland first.

The amber warning sits within wider yellow warnings that stretch further south into England and cover the whole of Northern Ireland. Outside the amber area, gusts could still reach 50–60mph, and heavy rain may cause disruption. The outlook for Sunday to Tuesday is for strong winds to continue in northern regions on Sunday, with Boelo clearing Scotland later but conditions staying unsettled.

After Storm Austen

Boelo is the second storm in a few days. Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, moved towards the Low Countries on Friday 23 October, and its amber warning has expired. According to the Met Office, gusts reached 76mph at St Mary’s airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74mph at Aberporth in south Wales and 71mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. The BBC's summary mentions thousands of people without power; we could not confirm this in other sources.

Travel disruption

Transport Scotland warns that road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected. Longer journey times, cancellations and restrictions on bridges and exposed routes are possible. Fallen trees and localised power cuts are also possible. Police Scotland points to a high risk of disruption during the warning, and Transport Scotland will run a resilience room for its duration.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) also warns of an elevated risk of river, surface water and coastal flooding, particularly around the Firth of Clyde, which may continue into next week.

What this means for you

People living in or travelling through Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England over the weekend of 24–25 October should check the forecast and operators’ updates before setting out, and allow extra time. Authorities advise considering delaying non-essential journeys until conditions improve. Traffic Scotland publishes up-to-date road information.