90,000 customers remain without power as winds return to UK

Two storms hit Britain back to back over the weekend, leaving approximately 90,000 properties in the north without electricity. Forecasters now predict another round of strong winds will strike the country on Tuesday.

The Energy Networks Association reported the number of affected customers on Monday morning. The group represents power operators in the UK and Ireland. Its chief executive, Lawrence Slade, told BBC Radio 4 that crews worked to restore service to about 700,000 customers during the weekend.

Slade described the conditions as tough because Storm Boelo followed so closely after Storm Austen. He explained that steady winds made it hard for engineers to work safely. Gusts reached 50 to 70 mph in many areas. Winds hit 85 mph in northern Scotland. Crews could not replace poles or raise wires until the weather system passed.

The weekend storms caused two deaths. Authorities said a 60-year-old man was struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway. A second man, in his 20s, died in Finchley in north London.

Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, met with senior politicians and emergency teams on Sunday to coordinate the response. He posted on X on Monday to offer condolences to the families of the two victims. He thanked emergency services for working through the night.

Flooding damaged businesses and homes in several locations. In Largs, residents filmed water cascading through the town center. One local said she had never seen the water level that high in 36 years of living there. Staff at a restaurant called Tha-Tien-Thai shared video of their kitchen underwater. They stated the doors would close for the foreseeable future because flood restoration is larger than originally planned.

Emergency services responded to a care home in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on Sunday evening. Police Scotland confirmed everyone at the facility was accounted for. Officers remained on site overnight to assist with road closures and safety checks.

Travel disruption affected air and rail services. Flights were diverted from Leeds Bradford, England’s highest airport, while others were cancelled. Most train services resumed normal operations, though operators advised passengers to check before traveling.

The Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for Tuesday. The first runs from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m. and covers western coastal areas from Cornwall to south-west Scotland. Gusts may reach 65 mph in exposed spots, accompanied by heavy rain. The second warning runs from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. and covers most of Scotland. Winds of 50 to 60 mph are expected to be widespread, with gusts up to 70 mph in the far north.

The storms also canceled several events. Racing at Aintree was abandoned on Sunday due to high winds. A live blog from a Sunderland and Leeds match noted the wind as the main factor in the goalless draw.