90,000 UK Customers Remain Without Power After Storms

90,000 properties across northern parts of the United Kingdom remained without electricity on Monday morning. The Energy Networks Association provided this figure on Oct. 26, noting that the blackouts followed two consecutive storms, Austen and Boelo. The association represents power operators in the UK and Ireland.

Lawrence Slade, the chief executive of the association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that crews worked to restore power to approximately 700,000 customers over the weekend. He described Friday through Sunday as particularly difficult periods. Slade noted that the rapid succession of the two storms created a compounding effect. Engineers could not safely exit their vehicles to replace poles or rehang wires while winds remained constant.

Wind speeds during the weekend widely reached 50 to 70 mph. In northern Scotland, gusts peaked at 85 mph. These conditions made fieldwork hazardous. The Met Office reported milder conditions for Monday but issued two yellow weather warnings for Tuesday. One warning covers western coastal areas from Cornwall to south-west Scotland from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m. Gusts of up to 65 mph are expected in these exposed zones, accompanied by heavy rain.

A second warning applies to most of Scotland from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Forecasters predict widespread winds of 50 to 60 mph, with gusts reaching 70 mph in the far north. The agency warned of potential travel cancellations, road closures, and additional power cuts. Authorities reported two deaths linked to the storms. A 60-year-old man was struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway. A man in his 20s died in Finchley in north London.

John Swinney, Scotland's first minister, met with senior politicians, emergency teams, and forecasters on Sunday to coordinate the response. On Monday, he posted on X to offer condolences to the families of the two victims. He thanked emergency services for working through the night to keep people safe. Swinney also highlighted the ongoing damage, noting the need to keep residents informed as new weather systems approach.

Flooding caused visible damage in several locations. Residents in Largs town center captured footage of water cascading through the streets. One resident stated she had never seen such a high water level in her 36 years of living there. Staff at the Tha-Tien-Thai restaurant in the area shared video of their kitchen underwater. They announced the venue would close for the foreseeable future due to extensive flood restoration requirements.

Emergency services responded to a flooded care home in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, on Sunday evening. Police Scotland confirmed that all residents were accounted for. Officers remained on site overnight to assist with road closures. Travel disruptions affected air and rail services. Flights were diverted from Leeds Bradford airport, and several others were cancelled. Most train services returned to normal operation, though operators advised passengers to verify schedules before traveling.