Storm Boelo to bring weekend gales after Storm Austen

The Met Office has named Storm Boelo, with the system expected to bring wet and windy weather across the UK on Saturday, days after Storm Austen brings strong winds to south-west England.

BBC Weather says yellow wind warnings for Boelo will cover Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England from Saturday and last for most of Sunday. Gusts are forecast to reach 50–65mph widely, and up to 80mph in exposed places. Transport disruption and power cuts are possible, with localised flooding also a risk after recent wet weather.

The strongest winds are expected to reach Scotland on Saturday afternoon and peak overnight. Poor travelling conditions are forecast across the UK, including from surface water and spray on faster roads and motorways.

Austen is expected to affect south-west England on Friday morning. An amber warning covers Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Plymouth and parts of Devon from 1am to 10am, with gusts of 60–70mph widely and perhaps 80mph in exposed locations. The Met Office warns of possible fallen trees, travel disruption, power cuts and damage to buildings.

The two systems arriving close together is not unusual, BBC Weather says: storms can come in clusters when a strong jet stream helps low-pressure systems develop over the Atlantic.