Storm Boelo has brought severe weather to the North East, with the Met Office warning of gusts between 55 and 80mph. The storm has caused widespread travel disruption and forced several events to be cancelled.
Warnings and Travel Disruption
The Met Office issued yellow and amber wind warnings for Saturday, with most of the region under the yellow warning. A second amber warning, effective from 9pm, covers parts of Northumberland and County Durham.
LNER has announced pre-planned alterations to Sunday services, issuing a 'do not travel' warning on certain routes. A reduced service will run between Northallerton, Darlington, Newcastle, and Edinburgh, with short-notice delays possible. All services to and from Aberdeen, except one to Edinburgh, have been cancelled.
Northern Rail is running reduced services on several routes this weekend due to expected difficulties from the storms. The Northumberland Line trains will not call at Blyth Bebside or Northumberland Park for similar reasons.
Transport and Road Closures
Nexus has confirmed that all Shields Ferry services will be cancelled on Sunday, with a half-hourly replacement bus service operating instead. The transport provider has also advised people travelling on the Tyne and Wear Metro to "take extra care" on slippery trains and platforms.
On the roads, the A66 is due to close in both directions between A67 Bowes and A685 Brough from 8pm, according to National Highways. Durham Constabulary has added that an earlier partial closure is already in place, specifically for high-sided vehicles.
Event Cancellations and Closures
The bad conditions on Friday caused the postponement of a Gateshead FC match, as well as closures at Bamburgh Castle and the Quayside Market. Several properties owned by the National Trust and English Heritage will be closed on Sunday, along with Northumberland Zoo.
The opening day display at the Alnwick Halloween House has been postponed, with organisers saying they are "absolutely gutted" about the change. Autumnal attraction Brocksbushes Pumpkin Patch at the Northumberland farm will also be closed tomorrow.
Weekend Outlook
The Met Office said: "It will be cloudy with rain, heavy at times, becoming clear and dry, but strong winds persist, reaching gale force in places. Clear spells will be short-lived as showers soon move in, some will be heavy at times, with a minimum temperature of 6 °C."
On Sunday, heavy and blustery showers continue, with strong winds reaching gale force in places, but with some sunny spells in between. Showers ease somewhat by the evening, but winds remain strong, with a maximum temperature of 10 °C.
