Met Office urges homes in 34 areas to gather torches and batteries for 24 hours - list
Met Office urges homes in 34 areas to gather torches and batteries for 24 hours - list Millions of Britons have been issued crucial advice. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Astha Saxena 20:56, Fri, Oct 23, 2026 Updated: 20:57, Fri, Oct 23, 2026 Met Office has urged homes to gather torches and batteries for 24 hours (Image: Getty) UK households are being urged to gather torches and batteries for 24 hours as Storm Boelo hammers parts of the UK this weekend. The Met Office has issued a "danger to life" amber warning of wind for 34 areas which will come into effect at 9pm on Saturday and will remain in place until 9pm on Sunday. According to the Met Office, the strong winds could see flying debris that may lead to injuries or danger to life. There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage, it explained. The forecaster explained: " Very strong westerly winds associated with Storm Boelo are expected with fairly widespread gusts of 60 to 70mph and gusts to 80mph in exposed coastal areas. The strongest winds will initially affect western Scotland and far north of Northern Ireland on Saturday evening and then spread eastwards overnight and through Sunday. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT "High winds will be accompanied by periods of heavy rain and frequent showers. Whilst high winds are expected across a wider area with a yellow warning in force, there is a higher confidence in impacts and disruption taking place within this amber warning area. The winds will gradually ease from the west through Sunday." Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . Richard Hammond’s business enters liquidation after 18 years Man 'sexually obsessed' with stepdaughter killed her after sex acts with effigy Stormy conditions are likely to hit the UK during the weekend (Image: Getty) In the event of power cuts, the Met Office has issued advice on what precuations people can take to help best prepare and deal with the situation. Households are advised to keep torches and spare batteries readily available and ensure mobile phones remain charged in case emergency communication is needed. During a blackout, keeping fridge and freezer doors shut can help preserve food for longer, while important paperwork should be stored somewhere safe and easily accessible. People are also being urged to check on older or vulnerable neighbours to make sure they have the support they need. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Safety experts recommend turning off appliances such as cookers, heaters and irons when the power goes out, as these could pose a risk once electricity is restored. Meanwhile, customers who rely on digital landlines and have poor mobile coverage should speak with their telecoms provider about alternative arrangements. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Anyone experiencing an unexpected power cut should first see whether nearby properties are also affected. If multiple homes have lost electricity, the outage should be reported to the network operator. However, if neighbouring properties still have power, the fault may lie within the home itself, such as a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse. List of areas under an amber warning: Regions and local authorities affected: Central, Tayside & Fife Angus Clackmannanshire Dundee Falkirk Fife Perth and Kinross Stirling Grampian Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Moray Highlands & Eilean Siar Na h-Eileanan Siar Highland North East England Northumberland North West England Cumbria Northern Ireland County Antrim County Londonderry Strathclyde Argyll and Bute East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow Inverclyde North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire SW Scotland, Lothian Borders Dumfries and Galloway East Lothian Edinburgh Midlothian Council Scottish Borders West Lothian Met Office weather warnings UK weather Storm Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments