Storms Boelo and Austen cause widespread power outages and transport disruptions across northern Europe
Storm Boelo and the earlier Storm Austen triggered power cuts for over 150,000 homes and led to flight, ferry and rail cancellations throughout the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Strong winds up to 135 km/h hit northern Europe on Sunday, leaving more than 150,000 homes without electricity and prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The Met Office warned that Storm Boelo posed a danger to life from flying debris and high waves, while flood alerts were also issued.
In the United Kingdom, around 82,000 households lost power, and fallen trees and downed power lines blocked roads and rail lines in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Storm Boelo followed Storm Austen, which struck southern England on Friday before moving across continental Europe.
Air travel was heavily affected; Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport announced numerous cancellations and delays, and several airlines diverted flights due to the strong winds. In Belgium, falling trees injured four people in Brussels, and in Germany two individuals were seriously hurt when scaffolding was blown away during a market in Nastaetten.
Northern coastal regions of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were forecast to experience high winds and rain. Ferry services in the area were cancelled, some Swedish train lines were suspended as a precaution, and traffic on Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge was restricted.
Power outages were reported in France (nearly 60,000 homes) and Germany (at least 10,000 homes), while the German weather agency DWD warned of winds up to 100 km/h on the northern coast.