Storms Austen and Boelo cause widespread power outages in Germany and Britain

On October 25, 2026, severe weather conditions caused by storms Austen and Boelo resulted in widespread power outages across Germany and Britain. In the German city of Freiburg and surrounding communities, approximately 10,000 households lost power after high winds uprooted trees and a detached metal roof damaged electrical infrastructure. The city's university hospital and mobile network services were temporarily affected by these disruptions. Power was restored by 11:00 local time through alternative supply routes.

Simultaneously, Britain faced severe disruptions, with the Energy Networks Association reporting 82,000 households without electricity as of 08:00 local time. Storm Austen moved through the southwest on Friday, followed by Storm Boelo, which brought wind gusts reaching 135 km/h, particularly impacting Scotland and northern England. While electricity has been restored to 345,000 customers across the UK, weather warnings remain in effect until 21:00. The severe winds have caused significant travel delays and flight cancellations, with authorities continuing to monitor the situation as the storm front progresses.