Two killed as Storm Boelo batters Britain with 85mph winds and leaves 90,000 homes without power

Two men died after being struck by falling trees in London and Scotland as fierce winds brought down power lines, flooded coastal towns and disrupted flights, trains and ferries across the country

Two men have been killed by falling trees and more than 90,000 properties left without electricity after Storm Boelo swept across Britain, bringing winds of up to 85mph, widespread flooding and severe travel disruption.

A man in his 20s died when a tree fell onto his moving car in north London yesterday afternoon, hours after a 60-year-old man was fatally struck by another falling tree near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway.

The deaths came as emergency services dealt with fallen trees, damaged buildings and flooded roads across the country, with Scotland among the worst-affected areas.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to Dollis Road, near Finchley Golf Club, at around 12.40pm on Sunday following reports that a tree had fallen onto a car.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene despite attempts by paramedics to save him.

Earlier, Police Scotland confirmed that a 60-year-old man had died after being struck by a falling tree on a minor road at Mid Kelton, near Castle Douglas, at approximately 10.30am.

Two women were also taken to hospital after another tree fell in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, shortly before 1pm.

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) reported that more than 90,000 properties remained without electricity at 7pm on Sunday.

Across Storm Boelo and the earlier Storm Austen, which struck on Friday, approximately 838,700 properties experienced power cuts. Engineers faced delays restoring supplies because dangerous conditions prevented them from safely reaching damaged infrastructure.

Wind gusts reached 85mph at Machrihanish in Argyll and Bute, with speeds of 84mph also recorded at Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides and Capel Curig in north Wales.

Over the weekend, amber and yellow weather warnings were issued across Scotland, northern England, and parts of the Midlands and Wales.

Heavy rain caused extensive flooding across western Scotland, particularly along the Clyde coast.

In Largs, businesses were flooded and the coastal road between Skelmorlie and the town suffered serious damage. Floodwater also affected roads and properties in Dumbarton, while a boat was reportedly blown onto a roadside in Gourock.

Parts of the A82 near Dumbarton were submerged, and other major roads were closed because of fallen trees and debris.

Rainfall totals reached 130mm at Cluanie Inn in the Scottish Highlands, increasing the threat of flooding in areas already saturated by earlier storms.

Rail services suffered cancellations and delays, while high winds disrupted ferry crossings and forced the closure or restriction of several major Scottish bridges.

Flights were also cancelled at airports including Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dublin.

Police Scotland has urged motorists to avoid unnecessary journeys, warning that fallen trees and damaged roads could continue to pose hazards after the weather warnings had expired.

Scottish ministers and emergency planning officials met on Sunday afternoon to review the damage and coordinate the response.

The Scottish government warned that further unsettled weather could return in the coming days, potentially complicating efforts to restore electricity and repair damaged infrastructure.

Network engineers are continuing efforts to reconnect affected properties, clear fallen trees and restore essential services.

READ MORE: US researchers develop storm-resistant drone to improve extreme weather forecasting. U.S researchers have developed the world’s first drone capable of flying directly into dangerous weather systems to collect real-time atmospheric data.

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_{Main image: Storm Boelo has battered Britain with winds of up to 85mph, killing two people, flooding roads and leaving more than 90,000 properties without power. Credit: Ray Bilcliff via Pexels}