Winds Halt Repairs for 90,000 UK Homes

The Energy Networks Association said about 90,000 properties in northern parts of the UK remained without power on Monday morning after Storms Austen and Boelo struck in quick succession. The trade body, which represents network operators in the UK and Ireland, reported that operators had restored power to about 700,000 customers over the weekend.

Lawrence Slade, the association's chief executive, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Friday, Saturday and Sunday were especially difficult. "It certainly was a tough one. One of the problems was how quickly Boelo followed after Austen," he said. Slade said gusts reached 50-70mph widely and up to 85mph in northern Scotland. "Until that weather system passes we can't safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up etc.," he said.

The storms caused flooding, travel disruption and event cancellations. Authorities reported two deaths from falling trees: a 60-year-old in Dumfries and Galloway and a man in his 20s in Finchley, north London. Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, met senior politicians, emergency teams and forecasters on Sunday to discuss the response. He posted on X on Monday: "My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two people who have tragically lost their lives as a result of Storm Boelo."

The Met Office issued two yellow warnings. The first runs from 6pm Monday until 3am on Tuesday and covers western coastal areas from Cornwall to south-west Scotland, with gusts up to 65mph expected along with heavy rain. The second covers most of Scotland from 3am to 9pm Tuesday, forecasting winds of 50-60mph and gusts up to 70mph in the far north, with possible travel cancellations, road closures and further power cuts.

Flooding affected Largs town centre, where a resident told reporters she had not seen water that high in 36 years of living there. Staff at the restaurant Tha-Tien-Thai posted video of a flooded kitchen captioned "There is nothing left" and said the business would stay closed for the foreseeable future. Emergency services attended a flooded care home in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on Sunday evening; Police Scotland said everyone there was accounted for.

Flights were diverted from Leeds Bradford and others were cancelled. Sunday racing at Aintree was abandoned because of high winds. Most train services were returning to normal on Monday, though operators advised passengers to check before travelling.