Two dead as storms lash UK, new weather warnings issued

Met Office warns of 70mph gusts and further disruption as 90,000 homes lose power

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Updated26 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources4 outlets

Two men have died after being hit by falling trees during Storm Boelo over the weekend, as the Met Office warns that further gale-force winds and heavy rain will continue to batter parts of the UK into Tuesday.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for wind and rain lasting through to Tuesday, October 27, with gusts of up to 70mph expected in the far north of Scotland and severe gales across the Hebrides. Around 90,000 properties have been left without power, according to the Energy Networks Association.

Storm Boelo claimed two lives on Sunday, October 25. A 60-year-old man died after being struck by a fallen tree in Dumfries and Galloway. A man in his 20s was killed when a tree crushed his car on Abercorn Road in Mill Hill, north London. A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said resources were sent to the scene, including a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to both men on X, saying: “My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two people who have tragically lost their lives as a result of Storm Boelo."

The stormy weather followed Storm Austen, which brought winds of up to 85mph across southern England, Wales and the Channel Islands over the weekend. Leo Slade, CEO of the Energy Networks Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it had been "a tough weekend" and that efforts to reconnect many properties were still being hampered by the weather. "Until that weather system passes, we can't safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up," Slade added.

Conditions are expected to calm from Wednesday, with high pressure building over the UK, bringing fine and dry weather into Thursday and Friday.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The storm has caused two deaths and widespread disruption, with thousands still without power and travel likely to remain affected.
Emergency services and power companies face continued challenges in restoring services while dangerous conditions persist.
The UK has seen two named storms in quick succession, raising questions about the frequency and severity of autumn weather events.

Background

The UK's storm-naming system, run by the Met Office and Met Éireann, is designed to raise public awareness of severe weather. Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are the first two named storms of the 2025-2026 season, arriving in rapid succession over the weekend of October 25-26.

Key Perspectives

Met Office: warned that strong winds and heavy rain will continue into Tuesday, with peak gusts of up to 70mph in the far north of Scotland, and that the strongest winds will reduce from the south-west later on Tuesday, with the far north the last to see winds ease. Energy Networks Association: said it has been a tough weekend, with 90,000 properties losing power and engineers unable to safely begin repairs until the weather system passes. London Ambulance Service: confirmed that despite dispatching resources and a trauma team to the scene in Mill Hill, a man was pronounced dead at the scene. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney: expressed condolences to the families of the two victims and thanked the emergency services working through the night to keep people safe.

What to Watch

The timing of power restoration efforts as winds ease from Wednesday onwards.
Whether further named storms develop in the coming weeks.
Any official review of the response to back-to-back storms.

Sources

About 90,000 properties still without power after two storms strike Britain · The Guardian
Weather warnings in place for another 24 hours after two die in gale-force winds · The Independent UK
New Northern Ireland weather warnings issued for high winds · The Irish News
About 90,000 properties still without power after two storms strike Britain · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says new weather warnings have been issued.The Independent UK: “Yellow weather warnings will remain in place for parts of the country until Tuesday (October 27)”
SupportedTwo men died after being hit by falling trees during Storm Boelo over the weekend.The Independent UK: “It comes after two people died as a result of Storm Boelo over the weekend. One, a 60-year-old man, was hit by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway, while a second, a man in his 20s, was killed when a tree crushed his car”
SupportedYellow wind and rain warnings last through Tuesday, October 27.The Independent UK: “Yellow weather warnings will remain in place for parts of the country until Tuesday (October 27)”
Partly supportedGusts of up to 70mph are expected in the far north of Scotland, with severe gales across the Hebrides.The Independent UK: “Temperatures will drop again tomorrow, with more heavy and frequent showers in the north-west of the country and severe gales across parts of Scotland, with wind speeds of up to 70mph in the far north. “There is still some uncertainty regarding the peak gusts, but the highest winds are expected in the far north and northwest and most likely over the Hebrides,””
SupportedAround 90,000 properties have been left without power, according to the Energy Networks Association.The Independent UK: “Around 90,000 properties have already been left without power after stormy weather over the weekend, the Energy Networks Association confirmed.”
Not in the sourcesBoth deaths occurred on Sunday, October 25.The Independent UK: “It comes after two people died as a result of Storm Boelo over the weekend.”
SupportedA London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said crews sent resources, including a trauma team, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.The Independent UK: “We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, incident response officers and paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance. “Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.””
SupportedSwinney said: “My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two people who have tragically lost their lives as a result of Storm Boelo.”The Independent UK: ““My deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two people who have tragically lost their lives as a result of Storm Boelo.”
SupportedStorm Austen brought winds of up to 85mph across southern England, Wales and the Channel Islands over the weekend.The Independent UK: “Storm Austen sweeping in across southern England, Wales and the Channel Islands, battering homes and businesses with winds of up to 85mph.”
SupportedSlade said it had been “a tough weekend” and that weather was still hampering efforts to reconnect properties.The Independent UK: “Leo Slade, CEO of the Energy Networks Association, told BBC Radio 4’s Today show that it had been "a tough weekend" after widespread power cuts caused by storm damage. Efforts to reconnect many properties are still being hampered by the weather, he said.”
SupportedSlade said: “Until that weather system passes, we can't safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up,”The Independent UK: “"Until that weather system passes, we can't safely get engineers out to replace poles, to get wires back up, so today is going to be a hive of activity in getting engineers out into the field," Mr Slade added.”
SupportedConditions are expected to calm from Wednesday, with fine, dry weather into Thursday and Friday.The Independent UK: “There is hope in sight as the country is set for calmer conditions from mid-week onwards, as high pressure starts to build on Wednesday (October 28). Showers and brisk winds will die down, with patches of fog to be seen early on Thursday morning, but clearing to a fine and dry day, with similar conditions on Friday, the Met Office added.”