Thousands of homes across the island of Ireland have been left without electricity as Storm Boelo sweeps through the region with severe winds and widespread disruption. According to BBC News, the storm has triggered multiple weather warnings and forced road closures across both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The storm arrives following Storm Austen, which struck earlier in the week, marking the second major weather system to impact the region in consecutive days. The Met Office attributed the storm's intensity to a deep low-pressure system strengthened by an active jet stream crossing the Atlantic.
Where are the worst-affected areas?
The most severely impacted regions in Northern Ireland include Springfield in County Fermanagh and Bushmills in County Antrim, where more than 1,000 homes near each location have lost power. Across the border in the Republic of Ireland, Milford in County Donegal has been hit hardest with over 1,600 homes without electricity, while Aghagad in County Sligo has experienced outages affecting more than 1,200 properties.
What weather warnings are in place?
An amber wind warning remains active across parts of County Antrim and County Londonderry until 10:00 GMT on Sunday, with an orange wind warning in effect for County Donegal until 09:00 local time. A yellow weather warning covers all of Northern Ireland until midday on Sunday, while a separate yellow wind warning applies to County Donegal until 15:00 local time on Sunday. Counties in Connacht, along with Cavan, Louth and Monaghan, are also under yellow wind warnings until 10:00 local time on Sunday.
How strong are the winds?
Storm Boelo is bringing gusts of up to 85mph across exposed areas. On Saturday, Northern Ireland recorded its strongest wind gust at 71mph at Orlock Head in County Down, while Malin Head in Donegal experienced gusts of 83mph. The Met Office forecast heavy rain alongside the winds, with 25–30 mm expected widely in the relevant warning area and 50–60 mm possible in some upland locations.
What road closures have been reported?
Multiple roads across Northern Ireland have become impassable due to fallen trees, according to police. The Ballyrobin Road in County Antrim is currently closed after the junction with the Seven Mile Straight, a closure that may affect journeys to Belfast International Airport. The Glenshane Road in County Londonderry, approximately half a mile from the Castledawson roundabout, is also impassable.
What happens next?
The Met Office forecast unsettled weather continuing into the following week, with another low-pressure system approaching and a wind warning already issued for northern parts of the UK on Tuesday. Residents are advised to monitor weather updates and avoid unnecessary travel during the warning periods.
