Calmer half-term week ahead after Storm Boelo's wild weekend

After a wild weekend of wind and rain from Storm Boelo, the rest of half-term week is looking much calmer for Birmingham and most of the UK, according to the latest forecasts.

Tuesday will still be blustery across England, but forecasters say the wind is not likely to cause any major problems away from the north. The strongest gusts will be across Scotland and the northern coast of Northern Ireland, where a Met Office yellow warning is in force, with gusts of 50-60mph and possibly up to 70mph in the most exposed places. Strong winds and heavy rain are expected to ease off later on Tuesday, with the rest of the week much calmer.

A tough weekend

Storm Boelo, the second named storm to hit the UK in a matter of days after Storm Austen, brought flooding and power cuts to thousands over the weekend. Scotland had a third of a month's rain during the storm.

Sadly, two men were killed by falling trees on Sunday: a man in his 20s whose car was hit in north London, and a 60-year-old man in Dumfries and Galloway, Richard Baines, the long-serving curator of Logan Botanic Garden.

Birmingham was spared the worst of it. On Sunday the Met Office forecast strong winds peaking in the morning around the city, with bright spells and highs of around 12C, while the heaviest rain fell further north and west.

Power and travel

Energy companies spent the weekend reconnecting homes. Leo Slade, chief executive of the Energy Networks Association, described it as "a tough weekend", and said engineers could not safely go out to replace poles and put wires back up until the weather passed. He stressed that the UK's power network was very resilient.

Disruption to travel continued on Monday, with some schools in Scotland closed because of a lack of power, heating or water.

Be ready for the next one

The Met Office has warned about the possibility of further power cuts in the worst-hit areas, and advises people to make sure they have essentials ready, including torches and batteries. It is sensible advice for any household as autumn turns to winter.

Making the most of half-term

With schools off this week, a calmer spell is welcome news for families. The clocks went back on Sunday, so it is now getting dark before 5pm in Birmingham, and outdoor plans are best made for the middle of the day.

Parks across the city are still showing their autumn colours, though some paths may have fallen branches and leaves after the weekend's winds. Take care on wet leaves underfoot, and keep an eye on the latest Met Office forecast before setting out.