(DPA)

Amber weather warnings have come into force in the UK as the worst of Storm Boelo hits parts of the country, hours after the first named storm of the season battered the country.

The Met Office said winds peaked overnight with gusts of 96-112 kilometres per hour affecting areas in the warning zone, including Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, while gusts topped at more than 128 km/h in exposed coastal spots.

The island of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland experienced 132 km/h winds at about 4 am on Sunday, according to the forecaster. The Met’s amber warnings came into force on Saturday at 9 pm.

Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, which brought strong winds to parts of the UK on Friday.

Hundreds of homes were still without power in south-west England after Storm Austen hit the region on Friday. National Grid said power had been restored to 131,225 properties by 7 pm on Saturday.

An amber wind warning, the Met Office’s second most severe, is active across Scotland and the north of England down to Carlisle from 9 pm on Saturday to the same time on Sunday.

A further amber warning runs from 9 pm on Saturday to 10 am on Sunday in the north-east of Northern Ireland.

Storm Boelo will bring a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves and people should stay indoors as much as possible, the Met Office said.

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. People should prepare for the potential for disruption, particularly to travel and power supplies.”