Clean-up under way as Storm Boelo leaves 90,000 without power
Around 90,000 properties remain without power as clean-up operations begin following severe weather.
Quick Look
- Clean-up operations are underway across the UK after Storm Boelo caused flooding, property damage, and two deaths.
- Around 90,000 properties remain without power as high winds and rain continue.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Storm Boelo is the second storm to hit parts of the UK following Storm Austen.
A clean-up operation is under way in parts of the UK after Storm Boelo caused flooding and property damage, leaving thousands without power.
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said around 90,000 properties are still without power as of Monday.
Two men were killed by falling trees during the storm on Sunday - a man in his 20s in north London and a 60-year-old in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.
Boelo is the second storm to have hit parts of the UK in recent days, following Storm Austen which brought similar levels of disruption, while strong winds and rain are forecast to continue on Monday.
Leo Slade, CEO of the ENA said it had been "a tough weekend" and that efforts to reconnect some properties were being hampered by the weather, with sustained winds of 50-85mph across parts of Scotland and northern England.
"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," Slade told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He stressed that the UK's power network was very resilient money was spent to prepare for these sorts of scenarios, but said a debate was needed over how much more investment was required to mitigate for further storms brought by climate change.
Homeowners and local businesses are among those who have been affected by the power cuts caused by Storm Boelo.
Marcus Reed, the operations director at home fragrance manufacturer Wax Lyrical, said his factory and shop in Lyndal, Cumbria would be without power until Tuesday evening.
He told the Today programme that he has had to turn away employees and customers.
"To lose two days manufacturing and distribution is going to be really disruptive," he said, adding that it was bad timing as it was "the busiest time of the year" for his business in the lead-up to Christmas.
"This is probably the worst situation I've experienced in my time here; we've had ad hoc issues over weekends where we've lost power, but it's been contained within a 12-hour period. It's the first time anything like this has happened, it's very serious."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Engineers will resume field repairs once weather systems pass.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- When will power be fully restored to all 90,000 properties?
- What is the total economic cost of the storm damage?
