Delays, cancellations and diversions at Leeds Bradford Airport as Storm Boelo hits
High winds from Storm Boelo has forced flights from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) to be delayed, diverted and, in some cases, cancelled.
An amber weather warning for wind has been in place across much of Yorkshire this weekend due to the second storm of the season.
The Met Office said winds peaked overnight with gusts of 60-70mph affecting areas in the warning zone, including Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, while gusts topped at more than 80mph in exposed coastal spots.
LBA is the highest commercial airport in England above sea level - at 208m - so is particularly affected by high winds.
Almost every flight to and from the airport has been cancelled or severely delayed, including flights arriving from Dublin, Palma, Malaga, Belfast and Amsterdam.
It is a similar story on the departures board, with most flights cancelled and other delayed significantly.
A statement from Leeds Bradford Airport, released at 11.20am, said: “Leeds Bradford Airport is currently experiencing disruption to arriving and departing flights due to Storm Boelo.
“Our teams on the ground are working hard in challenging weather conditions to support customers and manage the impact of the disruption.
“Departures: If you are due to fly today, please check the status of your flight directly with your airline before travelling to the airport.
“Arrivals: If you are due to arrive at LBA today, please check with your airline for the latest information on your flight and any revised arrangements.
“If you are parked with us and your return flight is delayed, you do not need to contact us. No additional parking charges will apply as a result of the disruption.
“We'd like to thank all customers for their patience and understanding while our teams work through these challenging conditions. We will share further updates as more information becomes available.”
Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, which brought strong winds to parts of the UK on Friday.
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said: “Storm Boelo will be felt across the UK this weekend, with the strongest winds and greatest potential for disruption in the north.
“Amber warnings are in place across mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, where gusts of 60-70mph are expected widely, with the potential for 80mph in exposed coastal locations.
“Strong winds will also affect other parts of the UK, with gusts of 50-60mph possible in places. Heavy rain will provide an additional hazard, particularly in the north, bringing the potential for further impacts.
“People should prepare for the potential for disruption, particularly to travel and power supplies.”
People should secure loose items outside, plan ahead if they are travelling and keep an eye on the latest forecast and warnings, he advised.
Storm Boelo has already caused widespread disruption.
Strong winds disrupted flights at Dublin Airport, where as of 4pm on Saturday nine outbound and 10 inbound flights had been cancelled by airlines because of weather issues.