Britain's north is being hammered by a second named storm in as many days. Storm Boelo, named by the Met Office on 22 October, is sweeping across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England this weekend with gusts of up to 80mph — hitting the opposite end of the country to Storm Austen, which battered the south on Friday. An amber wind warning is in force across Scotland, the far north of England and the north-east of Northern Ireland from Saturday evening through to Sunday night.

Storm Boelo: what the Met Office warnings say

Boelo is a separate low-pressure system to Austen, but it follows almost immediately in its tracks. The Met Office's amber warning for wind runs from 9pm on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday, covering all of mainland Scotland, parts of the far north of England down to Carlisle, and the north-east of Northern Ireland.

Within the amber area, widespread gusts of 55–65mph are expected, with up to 70–80mph possible in the most exposed coastal spots and on high ground. Yellow wind warnings cover a wider area — the whole of mainland Scotland, the Western Isles, Orkney and the far north of England from Saturday afternoon, and Northern Ireland from Saturday evening into Sunday — where gusts of 50–60mph are forecast more widely.

Heavy rain is accompanying the winds, and Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer warned the combination makes for "an impactful weekend of weather": "Storm Boelo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, impacting the opposite end of the country to Storm Austen."

Two storms in 48 hours

Boelo is the second named storm of the season. Austen, the first, struck the south-west on Friday morning: an amber wind warning for Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly brought gusts of 60–70mph widely and up to 80mph on exposed headlands, with spells of heavy rain that gradually eased through the day.

The damage was already visible before Boelo arrived. In Cornwall, more than 16,000 homes lost power just before 11am on Friday, according to the National Grid, which said engineers had restored power to more than 60,000 properties by Friday night since the storm began. Part of Brighton's historic West Pier — closed to the public since 1975 — fell into the sea after being pounded by wind and waves. The Met Office has said power cuts of the kind seen in the south-west could "potentially" be repeated across the amber warning areas in the north this weekend.

Meteorologist Tom Morgan told Sky News the contrast between the two systems was sharp: "Yesterday's Storm Austen affected the far south of the UK and northern France and the Channel Islands, whereas today's Storm Boelo will be affecting the north of the UK."

Travel, power and the coast: what the weekend looks like

The strongest winds arrived on Saturday evening and held through the night into Sunday, and the amber warning stays in force until 9pm on Sunday. Tom Morgan said "widespread travel disruption" was expected across Scotland, with impacts possible in northern parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England.

Rail: Network Rail Scotland has closed lines ahead of the worst of the weather. Services south and west of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire stopped from 9pm on Saturday; the Oban and Mallaig lines closed from about 10pm; and on Sunday the line between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach and the railway between Wick and Helmsdale are closed from the start of service. Trains will also run at reduced speeds across much of Scotland. Passengers are advised to check with their operator before travelling.

Ferries and roads: Morgan said he expected delays to ferry services, "if not cancellations," plus widespread impacts on railways and roads. Driving in heavy rain and spray means longer stopping distances and poor visibility — slow down, keep a bigger gap, and never drive through flooded stretches of road.

Power: Power cuts are possible within the amber warning area, and could knock out mobile phone coverage along with the lights. Charge phones and power banks while the warning is in force, and have a battery or hand-crank radio so you can still get official updates.

Coasts: Large waves are expected around northern coasts. The Met Office's standing storm advice applies: stay away from cliff edges and well back from stormy seas, which can sweep you off your feet — and if you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

How to prepare while the warning is in force

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Mark Sidaway said people in the warning areas should "prepare by securing loose items outside their property, being ready in case of power outages and being aware of likely travel disruption." The checklist is simple:

  • Secure everything loose outdoors — bins, plant pots, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds, and make sure shed and gate doors are locked. Flying debris is one of the main causes of storm injuries.
  • Park carefully. Move cars away from trees, walls and scaffolding if you can.
  • Prepare for a power cut: charge phones, torches and medical devices; keep a family emergency communication plan in mind so everyone knows how to check in if the networks jam; and keep the core of a 72-hour kit — water, no-cook food, a torch — ready, using the same logic as our earthquake go-bag guide.
  • Reconsider travel. If your journey can wait until Sunday evening, let the storm pass. If you must drive, expect closures, reduced speeds and delays — and remember that wet, leaf-covered roads are treacherous in their own right, as our driving-in-fog guide and black-ice guide explain.
  • Dress for the wind chill. Strong winds strip body heat fast, especially if you get wet — our hypothermia and frostbite guide covers the warning signs of cold injury.

The Met Office says severe weather warnings will continue to be updated, so keep checking the forecast through the weekend. England and Wales can look forward to a brighter, sunnier Sunday behind the storm — but the north has one more rough day before the warning lifts on Sunday evening.

What our records show, and what they miss

Our incident records show the season's rhythm clearly: named storms arrive in pairs and clusters, and the damage list is almost always the same — power cuts, fallen trees on roads and railways, cancelled ferries, and flooding where heavy rain meets saturated ground. Austen and Boelo follow that script exactly, just 48 hours apart and on opposite ends of the country.

With the warning still in force, secure everything loose outdoors and have a plan for power cuts — the warnings, and the checklist above them, are the whole point.

The short version

  • Storm Boelo, the season's second named storm, brings gusts of 55–65mph widely and up to 80mph on exposed northern coasts through Sunday evening.
  • An amber wind warning covers mainland Scotland, the far north of England and north-east Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 9pm Sunday; yellow warnings are wider still.
  • Expect rail closures and reduced speeds in Scotland, ferry delays or cancellations, possible power cuts, and dangerous waves on northern coasts.
  • While the warning is in force: secure loose items outside, keep devices charged, prepare for a power cut, and reconsider any travel today.
  • The Met Office will keep updating the warnings — check the forecast before setting out, and stay away from cliff edges and stormy seas.