Storm Boelo swept through the North West of England on Saturday, uprooting trees, smashing vehicles and leaving nearly 4,000 households without electricity as local authorities and power operators dealt with the aftermath.
Widespread power cuts and disrupted events
Electricity operator SP Electricity North West reported that almost 4,000 homes suffered outages across the region. The company said around 2,500 of those were in Lancashire, with a further 900 in Greater Manchester and about 500 in Merseyside. The high winds also forced the cancellation of public events and temporary closures at outdoor attractions.
- Aintree racecourse called off its Halloween Fun Day after gusts of up to 44mph were recorded.
- Bates pumpkin farm in Warrington shut for the day citing 50mph gusts as unsafe for visitors.
- Visit Liverpool cancelled its River of Light illuminated-artwork event on safety grounds.
The cancellations underline how even short-duration, high-wind weather can disrupt community life and local economies that depend on weekend trade and tourism.
Homes and vehicles damaged as trees gave way
Several instances of trees being blown over were reported across the city and suburbs. In Heysham, Lancashire, a tree was uprooted and fell onto a parked car.
“We had just sat down to watch Strictly - there was a lot of noise outside but you expect that when it's windy. But suddenly there was an almighty noise and my husband went out and said 'it's a tree - it's landed on the car'. It smashed through the sunroof and the windscreen,” said grandmother Lisa Roberts. She added that nobody was injured.
In Manchester, strong gusts tore trees from the ground in locations such as Alexandra Park in Moss Side. One uprooted tree blocked Mauldeth Road in Burnage, causing local disruption to traffic and necessitating removal by council crews.
Numbers at a glance
| Area | Homes without power (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Lancashire | 2,500 |
| Greater Manchester | 900 |
| Merseyside | 500 |
| Total | ~4,000 |
Public safety and response
Aintree emphasised safety as its chief concern when announcing the abandonment of its family day race meeting. In a statement, the racecourse said while it was disappointed to cancel, the welfare of participants, visitors and staff was paramount.
Local councils and utility teams were mobilised to clear roads and restore power where it was safe to do so. The closure of outdoor attractions such as farms and public events highlights the precautionary steps being taken by organisers and local authorities.
Local impact and practical advice
Although the incidents reported so far did not include serious injuries, the storm serves as a reminder of risks posed by high winds to houses, parked vehicles and roadside trees. Residents affected by power cuts were advised to follow guidance from their electricity supplier and local authorities. Basic precautions remain important:
- Keep a torch, battery-operated radio and spare batteries handy during outages.
- Avoid standing under or near trees showing signs of instability.
- Report fallen trees and live electrical hazards to the relevant council or electricity provider promptly.
Weather events with gusts in the 40–50mph range can produce sudden, localised damage even if they do not reach severe-storm thresholds. For residents and event organisers, the priority was safety and rapid, coordinated response by council crews and power teams.
As Storm Boelo moves on, recovery and clean-up efforts will continue. Where vehicles or property were damaged, affected people were urged to contact their insurers and the appropriate local services for assistance.
Further updates on power restoration and road clearances were expected from SP Electricity North West and local councils as crews assessed damage and worked to make routes and services safe.
