TransPennine and Avanti suspend northern travel as Storm Boelo approaches
The Met Office issued an amber warning for the north, forecasting gusts over 80mph and potential power outages affecting thousands of homes.
By Imani Donovan ·
Passengers in northern Britain will face halted train services this weekend as Storm Boelo approaches. The system, the second named storm of the season, brings heavy rain and strong winds that could disrupt travel and power supplies. It follows Storm Austen, which hit the south west of England on Friday and is now moving east.
Rail operators have advised against non-essential journeys. TransPennine Express stated that passengers should avoid all but essential trips on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast urged passengers not to travel north of Preston on Sunday. Ferry services also expect widespread disruption.
The Met Office issued an amber warning for Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle. This warning runs from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 9 p.m. on Sunday. A separate amber warning covers the north east of Northern Ireland from 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. The agency warned of a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves.
Power outages are a major concern for grid operators. The Met Office cautioned that the blackouts seen in the south west could be repeated in the northern amber warning areas. On Friday, 31,000 homes in the south west lost electricity. By Saturday morning, more than 3,700 homes remained without power.
Meteorologist Alex Burkill identified wind as the primary threat. He said the winds would whip up strong gusts across Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland, strengthening toward the evening. Although temperatures will be slightly above the seasonal average, he described the conditions as pretty unpleasant due to the wind and rain.
The storm is expected to peak on Saturday evening. Wet weather should clear overnight in many areas, though rain will continue in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This weather comes after the UK recorded its hottest summer on record, which included five heatwaves and 40 days above 30C. Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned on Friday that the country could face a winter of greater flooding.
Source: The Guardian
