Storm Boelo cuts power to 18,000 and grounds flights across Ireland

Storm Boelo cut electricity to 18,000 homes, farms and businesses across the Republic of Ireland on Sunday and forced flight cancellations at Belfast City, Belfast International and Dublin airports as high winds hit Northern Ireland and Ireland on Oct. 25, 2026.

ESB Networks reported that 18,000 premises in the Republic of Ireland were without power as of 12 p.m. on Sunday, down from a peak of 41,000 earlier that day. The outages were concentrated in the northwest, and the company warned that further disruptions remained possible while weather warnings stayed in force. It sent crews to all affected areas, expected most customers to have power back by Sunday evening, and told the public to avoid fallen wires and damaged equipment and to call 1800 372 999 in an emergency.

Northern Ireland Electricity said 7,000 customers lost power as Storm Boelo’s high winds and severe weather swept across the region from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The utility reported widespread damage to its network and localized outages across Northern Ireland, and it pointed customers to its Powercheck tool for estimated restoration times. The Department for Infrastructure logged about 350 incidents, including fallen trees and flooding, and said its teams worked throughout Sunday to respond.

Belfast City Airport cancelled flights to and from London, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool on Sunday because of Storm Boelo. A Belfast City Airport spokesperson said flights arriving and departing could face disruption because of adverse weather conditions across the UK.

Belfast International Airport cancelled 17 flights on Sunday morning, and its spokesperson said delays could be expected as the storm continued. Dublin Airport cancelled 12 inbound and 12 outbound flights on Sunday, citing weather problems elsewhere and continuing wind warnings, and said strong winds would keep affecting operations through the day. All affected airports advised passengers to check with their airlines for updates.

Stena Line cancelled sailings from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool on Sunday morning, and said crossings from Cairnryan to Belfast were also affected, while the Dublin-to-Holyhead sailing was not disrupted. P&O Ferries cancelled sailings from Cairnryan and Larne at 08:00 GMT and 12:00 GMT on Sunday, though P&O Ferries expected its 16:00 GMT departures to sail on time.

Storm Boelo forced the closure of the Foyle Bridge in Londonderry and Springwell Road in Groomsport, while fallen trees and flooding reduced Cootehall Road in Crawfordsburn to one lane. The Ballyrobin Road in County Antrim and the Glenshane Road in County Londonderry reopened after being impassable early Sunday, and temporary flood defences remained in place on Lockview Road and Laganbank Road in Belfast as a precaution.

Storm Boelo delivered its strongest gusts on Saturday, with 83 mph at Malin Head in County Donegal and 78 mph at Orlock Head in County Down, while Magilligan in County Londonderry reached 73 mph and Castlederg in County Tyrone recorded 70 mph. Rainfall reached nearly 40 mm at Castlederg and Lough Fea on Saturday. On Sunday, gauges logged more than 30 mm at Killylane in the Antrim Glens and 30 mm at Stormont in Belfast over the previous 24 hours.

The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for parts of Northern Ireland on Sunday as a deep area of low pressure drove strong winds, and an amber warning covering County Antrim and County Londonderry ended at 10 a.m. GMT. County Donegal remained under a yellow wind warning until 3 p.m. local time. An orange alert for Donegal expired earlier in the day, and forecasters expected westerly gusts near 70 mph in exposed coastal areas well into Sunday afternoon.

Forecasters put an additional amber wind warning in place from Saturday into Sunday as Storm Boelo approached, and the Met Office issued a 24-hour amber warning beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday covering Scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland, and Cumbria and Northumberland.

The office said gusts could reach 80 mph on exposed coasts, with 60 to 70 mph winds widespread elsewhere, and warned of power cuts, building damage, uprooted trees and travel disruption. Met Éireann issued six weather warnings for Saturday, mainly for western coastal counties, and the Met Office added a yellow rain warning for Wales and large parts of England from 11:00 to 23:00 on Oct. 24.

ESB Networks said power should return to most affected customers in the Republic of Ireland by Sunday evening, although the company warned that further outages remained possible while weather warnings stayed in place. In Northern Ireland, the Met Office forecast continued strong winds and occasional showers through Sunday with conditions gradually improving by evening. Forecasters also said a disturbed weather pattern would continue into the half-term week, with another deep low-pressure system bringing strong winds later on Monday and through Tuesday.

Garry Martin reported minor flooding in Donegal and said electricity lines were entangled in trees, adding that “in some instances electricity lines are entangled in trees.” He urged the public to stay back and call the ESB emergency number. Leitrim recorded a number of fallen trees but appeared to escape major damage, while Donegal contended with fallen trees, road debris and minor flooding.

Storm Boelo was the second named storm of 2026, following Storm Austen, which struck south-west England on Friday, Oct. 23 and left more than 31,000 homes without power by 3 p.m. that day.