Storm Boelo has disrupted electricity and prompted flood warnings across the north-west of England, with energy network operators reporting a series of power cuts affecting towns across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Warrington.
Immediate impact: households and areas affected
Distribution operator SP Energy Networks and local suppliers listed outages that, at the time of reporting, affected about 944 properties in the region. The problems were concentrated in a number of towns and wards where restoration was expected to extend into the evening.
| Area | Properties affected |
|---|---|
| Victoria & Norcross, Wyre | 392 |
| Culcheth and Glazebury, Warrington | 201 |
| Clifton, Blackpool | 170 |
| Werneth, Oldham | 143 |
| North Meols, West Lancashire | 96 |
| Foulridge, Pendle | 57 |
| Radcliffe West, Bury | 57 |
| Bradshaw, Bolton | 35 |
| Yealand Redmayne, Lancaster | 24 |
| Atherton, Wigan | 23 |
| Other smaller pockets (combined) | 125 |
Network operators warned that some faults may not be resolved until around 22:00 BST. The outages follow strong winds and heavy rain associated with the named storm.
Flooding threat and official warnings
Alongside power problems, there are active flood warnings for parts of the region. A government notice highlighted high river levels that could cause overtopping and flooding at Astley Bridge in Bolton, specifically affecting Old Road, Blackburn Road, Seymour Road, Greenwood Cale and Viola Street.
"Act Now"
The notice carried an "Act Now" advisory for residents in those areas. The guidance recommends moving valuables to higher ground, putting flood protection in place and following any local emergency advice. Local authorities and highways teams have already deployed resources to monitor vulnerable points and respond to incidents where feasible.
Transport and wider disruption
While the immediate source material focused on electricity and river levels, the Met Office and local authorities have issued broader cautions for travel and outdoor activity during strong winds and heavy showers. Authorities typically expect gusting winds to create hazards such as falling trees, debris on roads and interruptions to rail and ferry services in exposed coastal and upland areas.
What residents should do now
- Check the status pages of your local distributor or supplier for live updates on power restoration.
- If you are in or near the Astley Bridge flood alert area, move items to safety and consider sandbags or flood boards if available.
- Avoid driving through flooded roads — even shallow water can hide hazards and stall vehicles.
- Secure loose items outdoors that could become projectiles in strong winds.
- Keep mobile phones charged where possible and have torches and battery radios ready in case of prolonged outages.
Context and what to watch
Storm Boelo is part of a sequence of low-pressure systems affecting the UK, following earlier weather systems that left parts of the country dealing with power restoration and flood clean-up. In the north-west, the combination of saturated catchments and strong winds increases the chance of further localised flooding and infrastructure faults over the following 24 hours.
Residents are advised to monitor the Met Office and local authority channels for updates on weather warnings and road closures. Energy network operators continue to publish live fault maps and estimated restoration times for customers.
Local emergency services remain on alert and have previously urged people to avoid non-essential journeys while the amber and yellow warnings are in force.
Further updates will depend on how river levels and wind conditions evolve through the day and evening.
