The key facts

  • A 60-year-old man died from a fallen tree near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway at around 10:30 on Sunday
  • According to the Energy Networks Association, 161,400 premises remained without electricity as of 15:00 GMT on Sunday; across the two storms, outages affected 838,700 premises
  • The Met Office amber warning is in force until 21:00 on Sunday in Scotland and northern England

The fatality and the scale of outages

Storm Boelo, which battered the United Kingdom, has claimed its first confirmed victim: according to Police Scotland, a 60-year-old man died at the scene after a tree fell on him near Castle Douglas in the Dumfries and Galloway region in southern Scotland. The incident occurred at around 10:30 on Sunday, BBC News reports.

Power supply and weather records

According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), as of 15:00 GMT on Sunday 161,400 premises remained without electricity. The association noted that restoration is taking longer because dangerous conditions are 'limiting engineers' ability to safely begin work'. Including the previous storm Austen, which struck the country on Friday, power cuts have affected a total of 838,700 premises across the country. Gusts on Sunday morning reached 85 mph in Machrihanish (Argyll and Bute), 84 mph in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, and the same in Capel Curig in north Wales.

Warnings and consequences

The Met Office's amber wind warning remains in force until 21:00 on Sunday in Scotland and northern England; the yellow warning covers Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, parts of the Midlands and North Wales. The agency urged people to 'stay indoors where possible'. Four flood warnings have been issued in England and Wales, and 17 in Scotland. In the Scottish Highlands, up to 130 mm of rain fell — the maximum was recorded at Cluanie Inn. Ferry crossings have been cancelled, along with some flights at the Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dublin airports; rail services have been disrupted; Police Scotland is warning against unnecessary journeys. Mass events have also been cancelled: River of Light in Merseyside for the second day in a row, the Worksop half marathon, markets in Salford and Macclesfield, as well as several parks and stately homes.

The authorities' response

On Sunday afternoon ministers and officials of the Scottish government gathered to discuss the storm's consequences. A government statement said that although conditions may ease by Sunday evening, adverse weather could return in the coming days. Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly urged people to prepare for transport and power disruptions, secure loose items outdoors and keep up with forecasts.

Why it matters

Storm Boelo is already the second over the weekend after Austen, and the combined scale of outages (838,700 premises according to the ENA) shows the strain on power grids and emergency services. For residents of Scotland and northern England, this means specific restrictions until 21:00 on Sunday: active Met Office warnings, cancelled ferries, flights and events, as well as calls to refrain from travel. At the same time, as the Scottish government notes, worsening weather may return in the coming days, so restoring networks and monitoring warnings remain key tasks.

Large waves crash over the promenade in Largs. Buildings, including a clock tower, can be seen behind a huge spray of water, and the sky is overcast.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Storm Boelo has hit Scotland and the north of England the hardest

UK map showing location of Amber wind warning area shaded in orange.
Image caption,

Amber wind warnings cover much of Scotland and the far north of England

A fallen tree is seen blown over on top of a silver car in front of a house.Left, Brighton Pier collapses amid crashing waves. Right, a broken tree lies collapsed, ripped out and on the road.