UK weather live: Britain braced for Storm Boelo as 'danger to life' warning issued

UK weather live: Britain braced for Storm Boelo as 'danger to life' warning issued The Met Office has issued 'danger to life' amber weather warnings for Storm Boelo, which arrives just after Storm Austen caused serious damage in the South West Storm Boelo is set to bring 80mph winds and 'widespread travel disruption' to the UK this weekend, with forecasters warning of potential flooding, power cuts and problems on the roads. It comes after Storm Austen led to airports being closed, flights cancelled and even Brighton's iconic West Pier partially collapsing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned on Friday that the UK could face “a winter of greater flooding” and said we are living in a world where “unexpected events” are “more and more common”. An amber weather warning is in place across Scotland on Saturday, along with the north of England down to Carlisle and the north-east of Northern Ireland. It comes just a day after Storm Boelo battered the South West of England, with schools closed and 31,000 homes at one point left without power. Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “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." Key Events PM warns of 'winter of great flooding' The Prime Minister warned on Friday that the UK could face “a winter of greater flooding” and said we are living in a world where “unexpected events” are “more and more common”. Andy Burnham denied the suggestion that the Government is playing catch-up with civil preparedness as he attended a summit organised to learn from the summer’s record wildfires. He said: “We are having that conversation about resilience. That’s why we’re holding this summit today, it’s why we’re putting the guidance out to the public. “We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.” RNLI issues urgent warning ahead of Storm Boelo RNLI regional water safety lead, Michael Avril, said: “Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we’re asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks by travelling to coastal locations. “If you are near to the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea. “If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: Lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing before then calling for help or swimming to safety. “If you see someone else in danger – do not enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious difficulty. “Instead, remember phone, float, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to float; throw them something buoyant, like a life ring.” More rail disruption expected across Scotland Rail lines in western and northern Scotland are set to close later as the country braces itself for Storm Boelo, which is expected to sweep in with gusts of up to 80mph. Forecasters have issued an amber warning for much of Scotland on Saturday evening into Sunday as the storm hits, the day after Storm Austen which brought heavy rain to many areas on Friday. Planes cancelled and historic pier collapses as Storm Austen batters South West Those living in the South West of England will be hoping Storm Boelo will not cause as much damage and disruption as Storm Austen. At one stage, 31,000 homes were without power, planes had been cancelled and part of the historic West Pier in Brighton collapsed into the sea. Storm Boelo to batter UK's north Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “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. “We have an amber wind warning in place across Scotland later today and through tonight and into the end of Sunday. “With the strong winds, potentially gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour locally, there will be some widespread travel disruption across Scotland, possibly northern parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England as well through the next 24 to 36 hours. “I’m expecting delays to ferry services, if not cancellations, perhaps some quite widespread impacts to travel on the railways and on the roads as well.” Beach fight breaks out after family 'ignores red flag warnings' A passer-by allegedly attempted to alert a young family about the perils of entering the water at a 'red-flagged' beach in Cornwall as Storm Austen continues to wreak havoc across the UK. A couple accompanied by their two small children were shockingly recorded playing on Polzeath beach wearing wetsuits and carrying bodyboards. You can read more here. Storm Austen begins to ease as Storm Boelo moves in next Storm Austen is beginning to come to an end across the UK after bringing strong winds, travel disruption and power cuts through Friday. Some warnings remain in place into the night, but attention is now turning to Storm Boelo, which is set to bring another spell of wet and windy weather over the weekend. The first Boelo warning comes into force across Northern Ireland at 10am on Saturday, with further yellow and amber wind warnings covering Scotland and parts of northern England later in the day. The Met Office says gusts could reach 70-80mph in exposed coastal areas, with travel disruption, power cuts and dangerous conditions possible. Storm Boelo is expected to remain a threat through Sunday, with warnings currently stretching into the evening. What does an amber weather warning actually mean? The Met Office says an amber warning means there is an increased likelihood of severe weather causing disruption. Possible impacts can include travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and a risk to life and property. Forecasters say people should consider changing plans that could be affected by the weather and take steps to protect themselves and their property. The warning colour is based on both the expected impact of the weather and how likely those impacts are to happen. Woman airlifted to hospital after sea rescue during Storm Austen A woman has been rescued from rough seas in Devon as Storm Austen continues to batter the coast. Devon Live reports concerns were raised after a woman entered the water at Cryton's Cove, Dawlish, at around 3pm. HM Coastguard said it received reports of a woman in difficulty in the water at about 3.10pm and launched a rescue operation. A Coastguard helicopter rescued her from the sea before airlifting her for transfer to hospital. Dawlish Coastguard Rescue Team also attended alongside RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth and Teignmouth. Met Office warns Storm Boelo will bring wet and windy weather on Saturday The Met Office says Storm Boelo will bring wet and windy conditions across the UK on Saturday. In an update on X, forecasters shared a weather map showing the storm moving in and warned conditions will turn increasingly unsettled as Boelo arrives. Fight breaks out on beach as family enters sea during Storm Austen A fight reportedly broke out on a Cornish beach after a passerby tried to warn a family about entering the sea during Storm Austen. The family, including two young children, were seen heading into the water at Polzeath beach while a red flag was flying and strong winds battered the coast. A witness told Cornwall Live the father confronted and punched a man who appeared to be warning the family about the conditions. The witness said RNLI lifeguards arrived shortly afterwards and asked the family to leave the beach. Storm Austen has brought severe winds to Cornwall, with gusts of up to 80mph possible in exposed coastal areas. Storm Austen causes more rail disruption across Wales Storm Austen continues to cause delays and cancellations across Wales. Transport for Wales says a fallen tree is disrupting services between Llanhilleth and Newbridge until 9pm, while a signalling issue is affecting trains between Wrexham General and Bidston. Services to Fishguard Harbour, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock are also cancelled, with some disruption expected to continue through the weekend. Guernsey Airport cancels all remaining flights tonight Guernsey Airport has cancelled all of its remaining inbound and outbound flights this evening due to Storm Austen. Passengers due to travel through the airport over the weekend are being advised to check with their airline for the latest flight information. The airport said it remains open for some aircraft being repositioned from the UK ahead of services resuming on Saturday morning. Weather warnings remain in place into the weekend A number of Met Office weather warnings remain in force across the UK as unsettled conditions continue. For the rest of Friday, a yellow rain warning covers parts of northern England and Scotland until 11.59pm, while a yellow wind warning remains in place across parts of England and Wales until 9pm. The Met Office warns power cuts are possible, some roads may close and there could be damage to buildings, while large waves and beach debris could also pose a danger to life. On Saturday, a yellow wind warning will come into force across northern England and all of Scotland from midday and remain in place until 9pm on Sunday. Within that area, an amber wind warning will run from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday and also covers part of Northern Ireland. The Met Office says there is a danger to life, with power cuts possible and driving conditions potentially hazardous. A separate yellow wind warning will also cover Northern Ireland from 10am on Saturday until midday on Sunday. Thorpe Park closes for rest of day due to severe weather Thorpe Park has closed for the remainder of the day due to the severe weather caused by Storm Austen. The attraction said the decision was taken with the safety of guests and employees as its “highest priority”. It apologised for any disappointment or inconvenience and said visitors should check its return guarantee information for details on rebooking their visit. Avanti issues travel warning ahead of Storm Boelo Avanti West Coast has issued travel advice ahead of Storm Boelo, warning passengers of possible disruption across Scotland and northern England this weekend. The operator said passengers should check before travelling on all routes on Saturday, October 24. For Sunday, October 25, Avanti said it “strongly recommends” avoiding travel north of Preston if possible. Storm disrupts waste and recycling collections across Cornwall Storm Austen has prevented waste and recycling crews from reaching 91 properties across parts of Cornwall. Affected areas include Hayle, St Ives, Perranarworthal, Mylor, Carnmenellis, Two Waters Foot, Ley, Upton Cross and Tremar. Cornwall Council said crews will return on Saturday and resume collections from 7am. Flights circle and divert as strong winds hit Manchester Airport Flights attempting to land at Manchester Airport have been forced to circle or divert as strong winds cause delays to arrivals and departures. The Manchester Evening News reports that at around 2pm, roughly 10 aircraft were waiting to take off, with several others waiting to land. An EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Manchester was diverted to London Gatwick after making multiple loops near the airport and attempting to land. Passengers are facing further disruption as strong winds continue to affect operations. 31,000 homes without power as Storm Austen hits South West More than 31,000 homes were without power across the South West as of 3pm as Storm Austen continued to cause widespread disruption. National Grid said engineers had already restored power to more than 52,000 properties since the storm began. Strong winds have also brought down trees, disrupted rail services and forced flight cancellations, while parts of Brighton’s historic West Pier collapsed into the sea. National Grid said engineers remain out across affected areas working to repair damage and restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible. Can schools, attractions and events close because of a yellow warning? A yellow weather warning does not automatically mean schools, attractions or events must close. The Met Office says yellow warnings can still cause disruption, while the Department for Education says schools decide locally whether it is safe to open during severe weather. Event organisers and attractions can also cancel or close if conditions such as strong winds, flooding or unsafe travel create a safety risk. What needs to happen for flights to be cancelled during a storm? Flights are not automatically cancelled when winds reach a certain speed, with airlines and airports taking a number of factors into account before deciding whether it is safe to operate. The Met Office says strong crosswinds can make flying conditions more difficult, while severe weather can also force air traffic controllers to increase the distance between aircraft. This reduces the number of flights an airport can handle at one time. It adds that when particularly severe weather is forecast, airports and airlines may agree to cancel some flights in advance to reduce congestion and help the remaining operation run more smoothly. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority says passengers whose flights are cancelled because of extreme weather are still entitled to care and assistance from their airline. However, weather-related cancellations may count as “extraordinary circumstances”, meaning passengers may not be entitled to fixed compensation. River of Light opening night cancelled as strong winds hit Liverpool The opening night of Liverpool’s River of Light festival has been cancelled as strong winds from Storm Austen hit the region. Organisers confirmed the decision on Friday afternoon, saying deteriorating weather conditions meant the event could not go ahead safely. A yellow Met Office warning is in force across Merseyside until 9pm, with gusts of around 45-55mph possible. Visitors have been advised to keep an eye on the festival’s social channels for further updates over the weekend. Cornwall crews respond to 250 incidents including 150 fallen trees Highways teams in Cornwall are dealing with around 250 incidents caused by Storm Austen, including 150 reports of fallen trees. Cornwall Council said most major roads that were closed during the storm have now reopened. Crews are continuing to work through the remaining incidents in order of priority. Chester Zoo closes as Storm Austen brings strong winds Chester Zoo has closed for the day as strong winds from Storm Austen continue to affect parts of the UK. The attraction said it had taken the decision to remain shut on October 23, to “help keep everyone safe”. Animal teams will remain on site to care for the zoo’s animals, while visitors with tickets for today will have them automatically extended until December 31, 2026. A yellow Met Office warning for strong winds is in force across Merseyside and other parts of the UK until 9pm. In pictures: Storm Austen batters UK with huge waves, flooding and fallen trees Pictures from across the UK show the impact of Storm Austen, with huge waves crashing onto the coast, roads flooded and trees brought down by strong winds. The storm has caused disruption in several areas as damaging gusts and heavy rain sweep across the country. No trains running after tree falls on Hope Valley line Trains have been brought to a standstill between New Mills and Hazel Grove after a tree fell onto the tracks on the Hope Valley line. Network Rail Manchester Piccadilly confirmed on X that no trains are currently running while crews work to remove the tree. Fallen tree trapped under train causes disruption A large tree has become trapped under a train in the Bournemouth area, causing damage to the track and disruption to services. South Western Railway said the incident happened at around 5am after the tree was struck by the train. Rail lines in Scotland to shut during Storm Boelo Rail lines in western and northern Scotland will close as Storm Boelo sweeps in on Saturday with gusts of up to 80mph forecast. Network Rail Scotland said that services south and west of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire will stop from 9pm on Saturday while further north the Oban and Mallaig lines will close from around 10pm. On Sunday, the line between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach in the Highlands will be closed from the start of service, as well as the railway between Wick and Helmsdale. Trains will also run at reduced speeds across large parts of Scotland as the storm moves through, with speed restrictions starting late on Saturday evening and continuing into the following day. Cancelled flights at Southampton Airport A number of flights to and from Southampton Airport have been cancelled today as a result of the severe weather conditions on the southern coast. The next five flights due to take off from Southampton have been grounded, including easyJet services to Belfast and Glasgow, a Loganair flight to Edinburgh and one to Jersey and an Aurigny one to Alderney. All other flights scheduled after 5pm are currently still scheduled. Arrivals are also affected, with seven cancellations in total. Community hubs for those without heating amid power cuts Residents affected by the power cuts in Cornwall will now be able to shelter in dedicated community spaces, Cornwall Council has announced. A statement from the authority reads: "National Grid has confirmed that several warm spaces and community hubs are open today, Friday, October 23, to support people affected by power cuts. "Pendennis Community Centre in Falmouth is open until 1pm and will reopen from 5.45pm until 8.30pm. Mullion Village Hall will open from 12.30pm until 5pm. "Redruth Library is open until 5pm for phone charging, although hot drinks are not available. Princess Pavilion in Falmouth is also open until 5pm. St Buryan Church, near Penzance, is open until 5pm. "Please check opening times before travelling and follow National Grid updates for the latest information about power cuts and restoration."