Storm Boelo Leaves 20,000 Homes Without Power as Status Orange Wind Warnings Blanket Western Counties
More than 20,000 homes and businesses across Ireland are without electricity as Storm Boelo tracks northwards, bringing severe winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to the south, southwest, and north of the country. According to the Electricity Supply Board’s PowerCheck service cited by rté.ie, the outages mounted overnight as the second named storm of the 2026/2027 season made landfall.
Met Éireann issued a Status Orange wind warning effective from 2pm yesterday until 9am today for counties Donegal, Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. Forecasters predict gale-force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts reaching up to 130km/h in exposed coastal areas, prompting public safety officials to urge residents in the affected zones to avoid all unnecessary travel.
Tonight will be very windy or stormy with strong, gusty westerly winds for most areas and with gales and damaging gusts in Connacht and Ulster. Heavy showers will continue with isolated thunderstorms and localised flooding possible. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. pic.twitter.com/CW5T7oCbYz
Violent Marine Storm Force 11 Triggers Transport Disruption and Flight Cancellations
At sea, Met Éireann issued a rare Status Red marine warning for the coastal stretch from Rossan Point to Bloody Foreland to Fair Head, cautioning that westerly winds would reach a violent storm force 11. Stena Line and Irish Ferries cancelled multiple sailings across Dublin and Rosslare routes due to deteriorating maritime conditions.
Aviation felt an immediate impact as Dublin Airport confirmed that airlines cancelled nine outbound and 10 inbound flights on Saturday. Six incoming flights were forced to perform go-arounds, with five landing successfully on a second attempt and one diverting temporarily before returning.
🔊 Hear the latest National Audio Weather Forecast from Met Éireann for today & the coming days.Listen here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/PhuIebH3ph
Saturated Soils and High Tides Elevate Flood Risks Across Southern and Western Counties
Emergency planners remain concerned about surface flooding, particularly in counties Kerry and Cork, where soils remain heavily saturated following Storm Austen. Met Éireann warned that high tides, combined with storm surges and large waves, create significant risks of coastal flooding and wave overtopping during high tide cycles.
In Northern Ireland, the UK Met Office placed counties Antrim and Derry under a Status Amber warning from 9pm yesterday until 10am Sunday, while a broader Status Yellow wind warning covers all six northern counties until noon today. Meanwhile, event organizers cancelled several regional Halloween celebrations and outdoor gatherings.
Dublin Marathon Faces High Winds as Nationwide Weather Warnings Remain Active
The severe weather threatens to disrupt the upcoming Irish Life Dublin Marathon, where approximately 22,000 participants prepare to run under active wind warnings. Event organizers announced they are monitoring conditions closely via established adverse weather plans, advising runners to dress in appropriate layers.
Met Éireann maintains multiple Status Yellow rain warnings for Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, and Sligo. Public transport providers, including Bus Éireann, warned passengers to expect widespread delays and service cancellations as cleanup operations and hazardous travel conditions persist.
Two AMBER wind warnings now begin across much of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland ⚠️Strong and damaging wind gusts are likely, with both warnings remaining in place into Sunday 🍃 pic.twitter.com/vVIVkW8dwC
Frequently Asked Questions About Storm Boelo
What areas are under the highest level of weather alerts for Storm Boelo?
Counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal are under Status Orange wind warnings issued by Met Éireann, while a Status Red marine warning covers waters from Rossan Point to Bloody Foreland to Fair Head.
How many flights have been cancelled at Dublin Airport due to the storm?
Airlines cancelled nine outbound and 10 inbound flights on Saturday, alongside six aircraft performing go-arounds due to strong wind gusts, according to airport authorities.
A wet and very windy start to Sunday morning across the north of the UK as Storm Boelo continues to move eastwards ⚠️Further south, still blustery but a bright start to the day, with sunny spells and scattered showers 🌦️ pic.twitter.com/IDjCUmGuSB
When do the primary weather warnings for Storm Boelo expire?
The Status Orange wind warnings for the five western and northwestern counties are scheduled to remain in effect until 9am today, while several Status Yellow wind and rain alerts continue into Sunday afternoon.
STORM BOELO UPDATE 20:33hrStorm Boelo is now starting to come to it's peak and will be at its strongest between now and early Sunday morning, it will be only the later part of the morning before the winds ease somewhat across Donegal, Derry, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Antrim,… pic.twitter.com/XBrBzv9jAc