Storm Boelo on October 25, 2026, caused widespread power outages and flight cancellations throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Over 18,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Sunday afternoon, and dozens of flights were cancelled at Belfast City and Belfast International airports.
Power Outages, Flight Disruptions and Reported Incidents
Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE) reported fewer than 1,000 customers remained without power by Sunday afternoon, while ESB Networks confirmed about 18,000 customers in the Republic of Ireland experienced outages. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) recorded approximately 350 storm-related incidents, including downed trees and flooding.
Flight cancellations affected Belfast City Airport, where departures and arrivals
to London, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Liverpool were cancelled. Around 40 flights were also cancelled at Belfast International Airport. Dublin Airport experienced disruptions, contributing to regional travel delays.
Response from Electricity and Transport Authorities
Andrew Cupples, head of system operations at NIE Networks, stated that power had been restored to about 11,500 customers by Sunday evening with repair teams continuing work on the remaining under 1,000 affected properties. He noted that restoration depended on repair complexity. ESB Networks deployed crews in the northwest Republic of Ireland and expected most customers to have power restored by Sunday evening.
The Department for Infrastructure confirmed reopening of the Foyle
Bridge in Londonderry after closure during the storm. Temporary flood defences remain active at Lockview Road and Laganbank Road in Belfast. Several roads previously closed due to fallen trees have reopened.
Ferry Service Interruptions and Weather Data
Stena Line cancelled Sunday morning ferry sailings from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, with return sailings from Cairnryan also impacted. P&O Ferries cancelled their 08:00 GMT and 12:00 GMT sailings from Cairnryan and Larne on Sunday due to storm conditions. Subsequent P&O sailings scheduled for 16:00 GMT on these routes were planned to operate on time.
Storm Boelo produced gusts up to 78 mph at Orlock Head, County Down,
and 73 mph at Magilligan, County Londonderry, on Saturday. Castlederg in County Tyrone recorded 70 mph winds. Rainfall exceeded 30mm in areas such as Castlederg and Lough Fea, with nearly 40mm recorded in some locations. Wind warnings for Northern Ireland and County Donegal ended midday and 09:00 local time on Sunday respectively.
Official Statements on Operational Impact
Andrew Cupples underscored the efforts of engineers and support teams in restoring power to thousands of customers. A Belfast City Airport spokesperson warned that “due to adverse weather conditions across the UK, there may be disruption to flights due to arrive and depart.” ESB Networks described deploying crews
to affected areas to expedite restoration efforts.
Travel Disruptions and Ongoing Weather Conditions
Passengers faced numerous cancellations and are experiencing continued disruptions in air and ferry travel on Sunday. The Met Office forecasts gradual easing of winds through Sunday afternoon but expects strong gusts to persist into the week with further storm activity anticipated Monday and Tuesday. Travelers on affected ferry routes and at affected airports include Belfast City, Belfast International, and Dublin.
Travelers are experiencing the direct impact of Storm Boelo with power outages nearing 19,000 customers combined across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as repair efforts continue.
