A 60-year-old man has died after being struck by a falling tree in southern Scotland, as Storm Boelo brings severe winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread disruption across parts of the UK. Police Scotland confirmed that the incident occurred near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway at approximately 10:30 on Sunday, with the victim pronounced dead at the scene and no suspicious circumstances reported.
The severe weather has severely impacted regional infrastructure. According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), 161,400 properties were left without electricity by Sunday afternoon. Repair efforts have faced delays as hazardous conditions prevented network engineers from safely beginning fieldwork. Combined with the earlier impact of Storm Austen on Friday, the consecutive storms have affected a total of 838,700 properties across the country.
The Met Office recorded peak wind gusts reaching 85mph in Machrihanish, Argyll and Bute, alongside 84mph in Stornoway and Capel Curig in north Wales. Amber and yellow wind warnings remained active across Scotland, parts of northern England, North Wales, and the Midlands until Sunday evening, alongside multiple flood warnings issued for England, Wales, and Scotland.
The severe conditions have caused extensive travel disruptions, including cancelled flights at Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dublin, and Leeds Bradford airports, alongside suspended ferry services, rail delays, and warnings against unnecessary road travel. Numerous weekend events, outdoor attractions, and markets across Scotland, northern England, and the Midlands were also called off due to high winds.
