Storm Boelo: two dead and more than 90,000 homes without power

Storm Boelo swept across the UK on Sunday 25 October 2026. According to Polish Express, and to the BBC as cited by TVN24, two people died and thousands of homes lost power.

Two deaths

In north London, in the Finchley area, a man in his twenties died after a tree fell on the car he was driving. The Metropolitan Police received a report at about 12.40pm. Chief Superintendent Guy Ellwood said it was a "deeply tragic incident". Teams from London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance, among others, were sent to the scene.

A few hours earlier in Scotland, in Mid Kelton near Castle Douglas (Dumfries and Galloway), a 60-year-old man died. A tree fell on him too. In Aberfeldy, two women were taken to hospital after being hit by a falling tree.

High winds and warnings

The strongest gusts on Sunday morning reached 137 km/h at Machrihanish (Argyll and Bute). In Stornoway in the Western Isles and Capel Curig in north Wales, the wind reached 135 km/h. Until 9pm, a Met Office amber warning for strong wind was in force across Scotland and part of northern England. At the same time, a yellow warning expired for the rest of northern England, including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. It also covered parts of the East Midlands and West Midlands and north Wales. The Met Office advised people to stay at home where possible.

In the morning there were four flood warnings for England and Wales and 17 for Scotland.

Power cuts and transport

At 7pm on Sunday, more than 90,000 households were without electricity. The Energy Networks Association said repairs were delayed by dangerous conditions that limited the safe work of network engineers. The Scottish Government reported at 3.30pm that around 40,000 customers were without supply, while about 26,000 had been reconnected.

Some flights to and from Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dublin airports were cancelled. Ferry services were also disrupted. Network Rail Scotland said speed restrictions were introduced across Scotland and some rail routes were closed. Tracks and a platform at a station in Glasgow were flooded.

What happens next

On Sunday afternoon the Scottish Government's Resilience Room met. First Minister John Swinney met emergency services and forecasters. The Scottish Government warned that difficult weather could return early in the new week. Boelo was the second named storm in two days. On Friday, Storm Austen brought strong winds to south-east England.

What this means for you

People living in Scotland and northern England should check current Met Office warnings and operators' travel updates before setting off, as flights, ferries and trains may have been disrupted. The Scottish Government asks anyone who is cut off from help or power to ask for support.