By Basant El-Faramawy
Storm Boelo has caused fatalities and widespread disruption across the United Kingdom, bringing powerful gusts of up to 84mph, heavy rainfall, and significant flooding.
Two men have been confirmed dead following the storm. In Scotland, a 60-year-old man was killed by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway on Sunday morning. In north London, a man in his 20s lost his life when a tree fell onto his moving vehicle in Mill Hill.
The storm has triggered an amber weather warning for wind in Scotland and much of northern England. High winds were recorded across the country, including 84mph in Argyll and Bute, 83mph in Snowdonia, and 82mph in the Inner Hebrides. The Met Office has warned that the storm poses a danger to life due to flying debris and crashing waves.
Widespread power outages have affected hundreds of thousands of homes in Scotland and northwest England. While engineers have reconnected over 344,000 customers, approximately 82,600 remained without power by Sunday afternoon.
Transport networks have faced severe challenges. Many A-roads in Scotland are closed due to fallen trees, and National Rail reported significant disruption, including a blocked line between Liverpool and Manchester. In Glasgow, flooding submerged tracks at Dalmarnock station. Several major bridges in Scotland, including the Queensferry Crossing, have been closed to high-sided vehicles.
Travel has also been heavily impacted by air and sea cancellations. Numerous flights at Belfast International and Leeds Bradford Airport were cancelled or diverted. Ferry services, including CalMac and Stena Line, have seen widespread cancellations, and some crossings between Dover and Calais were also halted.
Environment agencies in both England and Scotland have issued multiple flood warnings and alerts as heavy rain continues to impact northern regions.
