Storm Boelo: 80mph gusts and travel halts hit northern Britain

Storm Boelo is set to reach northern Britain with winds exceeding 80mph and persistent rain, marking the second named storm of the season.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for Scotland and northern England down to Carlisle, effective from 9pm Saturday until the same time on Sunday. A separate amber warning applies to the north-east of Northern Ireland from 9pm Saturday to 10am Sunday. A wider yellow warning covers the entire UK north from midday Saturday to 9pm Sunday, while a heavy rain warning applies to Wales and parts of western and southern England from 11am to 11pm Saturday.

Rail operators are restricting services in response to the forecast conditions. TransPennine Express has advised passengers to avoid all but essential journeys on Saturday and Sunday. Avanti West Coast has strongly urged travelers to avoid north of Preston on Sunday. Ferry services are also expected to see widespread disruption.

Meteorologist Alex Burkill of the Met Office identified the winds as the primary hazard. He noted that strong gusty winds would affect Northern Ireland, northern England, and Scotland throughout the day, with conditions strengthening into the evening. Burkill described the weather as "pretty unpleasant," contrasting it with the hotter conditions experienced earlier in the season.

The Met Office warned that power outages similar to those seen in the south-west could repeat in the northern amber areas. On Friday, 31,000 homes in the south-west lost electricity, and more than 3,700 remained without power on Saturday morning according to National Grid data.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the weather patterns at a summit on summer wildfires on Friday. He warned that the UK could face "a winter of greater flooding" and stated that unexpected events are becoming more common. The country recorded its hottest summer on record this year, featuring five heatwaves and 40 days above 30C.