On October 26, 2026, all flights scheduled at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports were cancelled due to the severe weather conditions caused by Storm Boelo. The storm forced the grounding of more than 100 flights nationwide, heavily disrupting air travel across the UK.
Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest airport, experienced significant disruption particularly across its short-haul flight networks. Gatwick officials explicitly warned passengers not to travel without first confirming their flight status amid hazardous high winds and restricted air traffic control spacing.
Severe Wind Gusts and Flood Warnings Across UK
Storm Boelo generated strong wind gusts, with speeds reaching up to 85 mph around London. The Met Office issued
amber weather warnings covering Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, and the far north of England, with gusts recorded at 76 mph at St Mary’s Airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74 mph at Aberporth in South Wales, and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. The yellow wind warning zone remained active until 9 p.m. on October 26.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency reported 34 active flood warnings and 11 alerts as of the morning of October 26, while the Environment Agency issued five flood warnings and 33 alerts across northern England by 11 a.m. Network Rail Scotland confirmed flooding at
several Glasgow stations, fallen trees blocking rail lines, and speed restrictions causing rail closures. Major roads in Scotland were also shut due to collapsed trees, downed cables, strong winds, and storm damage.
Travel Disruptions Extend to Rail and Public Events
Beyond the airports, rail services across Scotland faced closures and delays caused by flooding and debris, with Network Rail Scotland sharing images showing submerged platforms and obstacles near the tracks. Authorities urged residents near railway lines to secure outdoor items to prevent further hazards.
In London, the Greater London Authority, advised by independent health and safety experts, cancelled the city’s annual Diwali and Trafalgar Square celebrations for safety
reasons. The decision followed heavy gales and continuous heavy rainfall, which made setting up staging infrastructure unsafe.
The air travel restrictions come just days after Storm Austen affected the UK on October 23-24, 2026. Combined, these storms have severely limited flight operations and ground transportation services across multiple regions, impacting thousands of travelers and public activities.
