The key facts
- Storm Boelo is expected on Saturday: strong winds and rain in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England
- The first storm of the season, Austen, will arrive on Friday; one amber and two yellow wind warnings have been issued for it
- The Met Office urges people to follow forecast updates
The second storm of the season is on its way
The UK is preparing for the second named storm of the season — Boelo, which, according to the Met Office forecast, will hit the country on Saturday. The main impact will be in the north: the strongest winds are expected in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
Comment from forecasters
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said in a statement on Thursday that Storm Boelo will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England over the weekend, affecting the opposite end of the country compared to Storm Austen. According to him, the strong winds will be accompanied by heavy rain, making the weekend 'weather significant'. He added that severe weather warnings and forecast details will be refined, and urged people to follow updates in the coming days.
Storm Austen will arrive earlier
Boelo will arrive less than 48 hours after the first named storm of the season — Austen — was declared, which is expected to reach the UK on Friday. The Met Office has issued one amber and two yellow wind warnings for Austen, covering Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of west Devon.
Two separate systems
According to the Met Office, Boelo is a separate low-pressure system, not connected with Storm Austen, which will bring strong winds and rain to southern parts of the country overnight into Thursday and on Friday. Austen will move into the North Sea by Friday evening.
