90,000 UK homes still dark as storm winds return

Two named storms, Austen and Boelo, struck the United Kingdom over the weekend, leaving approximately 90,000 properties without electricity as of Monday morning. The Energy Networks Association reported that operators had to restore power to roughly 700,000 customers during the three-day period. The disruption caused widespread travel delays, flooding, and the cancellation of public events.

Lawrence Slade, the association’s chief executive, described the restoration effort as challenging because the second storm followed immediately after the first. He noted that engineers could not safely work to replace poles or reconnect wires while strong winds persisted. Wind speeds reached 50 to 70 miles per hour in many areas, with gusts of up to 85 miles per hour recorded in northern Scotland. Crews remain on standby until the weather system passes.

Forecasters at the Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for additional strong winds on Tuesday. The first warning covers western coastal areas from Cornwall to south-west Scotland between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Gusts of up to 65 miles per hour are expected, accompanied by heavy rain and strong waves. The second warning applies to most of Scotland from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m., with winds of 50 to 60 miles per hour likely across the region and gusts up to 70 miles per hour in the far north.

Authorities confirmed two deaths resulting from falling trees. A 60-year-old man in Dumfries and Galloway and a man in his 20s in Finchley, north London, were killed. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney met with senior politicians and emergency teams on Sunday to coordinate the response. He posted on X that his thoughts were with those affected and thanked emergency services for working through the night.

Floodwater cascaded through the town centre of Largs, prompting one resident to say it was the highest level she had seen in 36 years. Staff at the restaurant Tha-Tien-Thai shared video of their kitchen underwater and announced the location would close for the foreseeable future due to larger restoration needs. Emergency services responded to a flooded care home in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on Sunday evening. Police Scotland stated that all residents were accounted for and officers remained on site overnight to assist.

Travel disruptions continued on Monday, with flights diverted from Leeds Bradford, England’s highest airport. Most train services began returning to normal, though operators advised customers to verify schedules before traveling. High winds forced the abandonment of Sunday racing at Aintree. A football match between Sunderland and Leeds ended in a goalless draw, with officials noting the wind as a dominant factor in the game.