90,000 UK Homes Remain Dark After Back-to-Back Storms
Grid operators report widespread outages in northern Britain as a new wind front approaches with gusts up to 70 mph.
By Amit Ricci ·
The United Kingdom is bracing for a second wave of severe weather while still recovering from a weekend of intense storms that left nearly 90,000 properties without electricity. The Energy Networks Association, which represents grid operators in the UK and Ireland, confirmed the outage count on Monday morning.
Two named storms, Austen and Boelo, hit the country in quick succession, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and daily life. The rapid transition between the two systems created a particularly difficult situation for repair crews, who had to manage outages without a break in the severe conditions.
Lawrence Slade, chief executive of the association, stated that operators worked to restore power to approximately 700,000 customers over the weekend. He described the situation as tough due to the lack of a pause between the storms. Slade explained that engineers could not safely replace poles or repair wires until the strongest winds subsided.
Wind speeds during the weekend ranged widely from 50 to 70 miles per hour, with peaks reaching 85 mph in northern Scotland. Although conditions were milder on Monday, the Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for incoming winds.
The first warning covers western coastal areas from Cornwall to south-west Scotland from 6 pm on Monday to 3 am on Tuesday. Forecasters expect gusts of up to 65 mph in exposed areas, accompanied by heavy rain and strong waves. The second warning applies to most of Scotland from 3 am to 9 pm on Tuesday, with widespread winds of 50 to 60 mph and gusts up to 70 mph in the far north.
Two men died during the weekend storms. A 60-year-old man was struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway, while a man in his 20s died in Finchley, north London. Scottish First Minister John Swinney sent condolences to the families of the victims and thanked emergency services for their efforts.
Swiney met with senior politicians, emergency teams, and forecasters on Sunday to coordinate the response. He posted on social media that his thoughts were with those affected by the damage and acknowledged the work of emergency personnel operating through the night.
Flooding affected several areas, including Largs town centre, where water cascaded through the streets. A local resident noted that the water levels were the highest she had seen in 36 years. The Thai restaurant Tha-Tien-Thai closed its doors for the foreseeable future after its kitchen was overwhelmed by water.
Emergency services responded to a flooded care home in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on Sunday evening. Police Scotland confirmed that all residents were accounted for and set up road closures, with officers remaining on site overnight to assist.
Travel disruptions included diverted flights at Leeds Bradford, England's highest airport, and other cancellations. Most train services had begun returning to normal by Monday, though operators advised passengers to check conditions before traveling. The high winds also forced the abandonment of Sunday racing at Aintree.
