BBC News, on Climate, 24 October 2026

This short BBC update on Storm Boelo gives its reader three different counts of how many North West homes lost power: 243 in the picture caption, about 944 in the text, and a list of locations that adds up to more than 1,300. It also reports flooding expected in Bolton without once saying that a warming climate makes heavy rainfall and flooding worse.

6.0

Serious

out of 10

What we found

  1. Uses figures that mislead

    Serious

    “Power cuts have impacted 243 homes in the North West”

    What the words do
    The caption gives a firm figure of 243 homes cut off.
    What a reader comes away believing
    A reader takes away that roughly 243 homes in the North West lost power.
    What is actually the case
    The article's own text puts the number at about 944, nearly four times higher, so the caption figure is contradicted a sentence later.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“about 944 homes in total”

    Show it in the article

    “about 944 homes in total across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Warrington currently have no power”

    What the words do
    States a total of about 944 homes without power, sourced to the network operator's website.
    What a reader comes away believing
    A reader takes 944 as the figure for homes off supply across the three areas.
    What is actually the case
    The article then prints a full list of affected areas whose numbers add up to about 1,368, so its own breakdown does not match the total it gives.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“Culcheth And Glazebury, Warrington - 201”

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    SP Electricity North West's website listed power cuts affecting about 1,370 properties across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Warrington, with supplies expected back by around 22:00 BST.

  2. Leaves out the climate link

    Minor

    “high river levels is expected to cause flooding at Astley Bridge”

    What the words do
    Reports flooding expected from high river levels with no word on why such rainfall and flooding are getting worse.
    What a reader comes away believing
    A reader takes the flooding as ordinary autumn weather with no connection to a warming climate.
    What is actually the case
    Warming has made heavy rainfall and the flooding that follows more frequent and more severe, and the article never carries that line.

    How we know

    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “warming”.
    • On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)

    Show it in the article

Every underline is part of a finding. Press one to see why.

Storm Boelo: Hundreds of North West homes without power

Hundreds of homes without power due to Storm Boelo Image source, EPA Image caption, while flood warning are also in place Published 24 October 2026 Hundreds of homes are without power as Storm Boelo hits the north west of England. There is a yellow weather warning for the majority of the North West which is expected to remain in place for most of Sunday 25 October. Parts of Lancashire are under an amber weather warning. According to SP Electricity North West's website with issues expected to last until around 22:00 BST. In Blackpool, Lancashire 170 homes are facing a power cut while 143 are impacted in Oldham, Greater Manchester. In Warrington, which sits in between Greater Manchester and Merseyside, 201 homes are affected. The full list of areas and properties impacted: Bradshaw, Bolton - 35 Victoria & Norcross, Wyre - 392 North Meols, West Lancashire - 96 Westby-With-Plumptons, Fylde - 30 Atherton, Wigan - 23 Clifton, Blackpool - 170 Werneth, Oldham - 143 Leigh South, Wigan - 4 Culcheth And Glazebury, Warrington - 201 Silverdale, Lancaster - 22 Foulridge, Pendle 57 Farnworth, Bolton - 15 Worsley, Rossendale - 49 Yealand Redmayne, Lancaster - 24 Milnrow & Newhey, Rochdale - 13 Swinton &Ley, Salford - 37 Radcliffe West, Bury - 57 As well as the weather causing power issues, there are also a number of flood warnings in place. A message on the government's website is warning is warning that , in Bolton, Greater Manchester, impacting the areas of Old Road, Blackburn Road, Seymour Road, Greenwood Cale and Viola Street. In its 'Act Now' warning, those living in the areas are encouraged to follow the guidance which includes steps such as moving any valuables to a safe place and putting flood protection equipment in place. Get in touch Tell us which stories we should cover in the North West Contact form Contact form Read more stories from Cheshire , Lancashire , Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X , external . Related internet links Storm Boelo forces further Merseyside closures Published 15 hours ago More on this story Storm Austen: Trees uprooted, zoo closed and events cancelled Published 1 day ago

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