Two men died and more than 160,000 properties lost power as Storm Boelo battered the UK on Sunday, according to police and energy networks. The severe weather arrived in northern parts of the country on Saturday evening. It was the second named storm in as many days, following Storm Austen in south-west England on Friday.
Police Scotland confirmed that a 60-year-old man was killed on a minor road at Mid Kelton at about 10.30am on Sunday when a falling tree struck him. A Police Scotland spokesperson stated there were no suspicious circumstances, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
In London, a man in his 20s died when a tree fell onto his car in Mill Hill in the north of the city at 12.40pm. Chief Inspector Guy Ellwood said that thoughts were with the loved ones of the young man who lost his life.
The Met Office reported that wind speeds widely reached 60mph to 70mph under an amber warning zone that came into force on Saturday night. The warning covered Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England. Gusts exceeded 80mph in exposed coastal spots. The island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides recorded winds of 82mph, while Argyll and Bute reached 84mph and Snowdonia hit 83mph.
The Energy Networks Association stated that 161,400 customers were without power across Great Britain. SP Energy Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks reported that about 53,000 homes in Scotland remained without electricity by late Sunday afternoon. Engineers worked around the clock, though the severe weather limited safe access to certain areas.
The Scottish government convened its resilience room on Sunday afternoon. First Minister John Swinney met senior politicians, emergency agencies and forecasters to discuss the government response, amid warnings that similar conditions would return early in the week.
Train travel suffered widespread disruption. Network Rail Scotland shared images of flooding from tracks to platforms at a Glasgow station and fallen trees near lines, while speed restrictions and route closures were implemented. Flights were diverted or cancelled at Leeds Bradford airport, and several events, including London’s Diwali on the Square and Liverpool’s River of Light, were called off. Edinburgh Castle and the Fountains Abbey estate in North Yorkshire were also closed for the day.
The Environment Agency issued six flood warnings and 50 alerts in northern England. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency recorded 17 flood warnings and 11 alerts. Cumbria police received numerous calls regarding localised flooding and fallen trees blocking roads.
Stuart Wilson of Transport Scotland said heavy recovery work was required before the transport network returned to normal. Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish social justice and housing secretary, urged the public to check official sources before travelling as disruption was expected to continue.
