Around 90,000 UK homes still without electricity after storms Austen and Boelo

Around 90,000 homes in northern England and Scotland remained without electricity on Monday after storms Austen and Boelo battered the region over the weekend, the Energy Networks Association said. The association’s chief executive Lawrence Slade told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that operators had restored power to roughly 700,000 customers but continued to face challenges as the weather persisted.

“It certainly was a tough one. One of the problems was how quickly Boelo followed after Austen,” Slade said. “Until that weather system passes we can’t safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up etc.” The Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for Tuesday, covering western coastal areas from Cornwall to southwest Scotland and most of Scotland, with gusts expected up to 65 mph and 70 mph respectively. The warnings advised caution near cliffs, warned of strong waves and highlighted the risk of further travel cancellations, road closures and power outages. Two deaths were reported: a 60-year-old man was struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway, and a man in his 20s died in Finchley, north London. Scotland’s first minister John Swinney expressed condolences on social media and thanked emergency services for their response. Flooding affected several communities, including Largs and Saltcoats, where a care home was evacuated and road closures were imposed. Some businesses, such as a Thai restaurant in Largs, reported severe water damage and temporary closure. Travel disruptions included diverted flights at Leeds Bradford Airport and cancellations across the rail network, though most train services were gradually returning to normal. The Met Office indicated that milder conditions were expected on Monday but warned that strong winds would return later in the day, urging the public to stay informed and take precautions.