Storm Boelo in Sussex: Taxi, Airport & Transport Travel Advice
Storm Boelo is bringing another spell of wet and windy weather across the UK. The strongest winds are expected further north, but travellers in Sussex should still plan carefully, check transport before leaving and allow extra time for airport journeys.
Storm Boelo's strongest winds are forecast across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, rather than Sussex. However, heavy rain is moving across the UK and the wider spell of severe weather has already affected transport networks. Anyone travelling through Sussex, particularly to Gatwick or Heathrow, should check their route before leaving and allow additional journey time.
What is Storm Boelo?
Storm Boelo is a deep Atlantic low-pressure system named by the Met Office. It is bringing widespread rain and strengthening winds across the UK during Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
The Met Office says the strongest winds are expected across northern parts of the UK, where gusts of around 60 to 70mph are possible, with even stronger gusts in exposed locations.
Southern England is expected to see rain move through during Saturday before conditions become generally drier on Sunday, although it may remain gusty and chilly.
How could Storm Boelo affect travel in Sussex?
Slower journey times
Heavy rain, surface water, reduced visibility and debris can all make journeys slower even when roads remain open.
Check before you travel
National Rail has warned that severe weather may affect journeys through the weekend, with late-notice alterations possible.
Allow more time
Passengers travelling to Gatwick or Heathrow should check their flight and ground transport separately before setting off.
Plan the full journey
A flight can operate normally while roads or rail services serving the airport are disrupted, so checking only the flight is not enough.
Sussex rail services and Storm Boelo
National Rail is advising passengers across the UK to check their entire journey before travelling during Storm Boelo. High winds can force trains to run at reduced speeds, while fallen trees and debris can block tracks or damage overhead equipment.
Sussex passengers have already seen disruption during the current period of severe weather. Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express have reported delays and service alterations, including problems linked to fallen trees.
If you are relying on a train from Brighton, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hassocks or another Sussex station to reach Gatwick, check the live journey planner immediately before leaving home.
Travelling to Gatwick Airport during Storm Boelo
Gatwick is the main airport for many Sussex residents, so even modest road or rail disruption can have a much bigger effect when you are working to a fixed check-in or departure time.
If you are travelling from Brighton & Hove, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Lewes, Worthing, Seaford or Eastbourne, do not rely on your normal journey time without checking conditions first.
Confirm your flight directly with your airline or Gatwick before travelling.
A flight operating normally does not mean the journey to the airport will be completely unaffected.
Wet roads, slower traffic or last-minute rail changes can all extend journey times.
Pre-booking is particularly useful during bad weather, when demand can rise quickly after rail disruption or cancellations.
What about Heathrow Airport?
Sussex passengers travelling to Heathrow generally have a longer ground journey, which makes weather-related delays more important.
Road conditions can vary significantly between Sussex and west London. Passengers should therefore allow a reasonable buffer and check their route before setting off rather than simply adding a fixed number of minutes.
If your flight departure time changes, check whether your pickup time should also change rather than assuming the original schedule is still appropriate.
Taxi travel during wet and windy weather
A pre-booked taxi cannot remove weather disruption, but it can make the ground transport part of your journey easier to manage.
The biggest advantage during disrupted travel is having your journey planned before you leave rather than searching for transport after a train cancellation or when airport demand suddenly increases.
Sussex Airports Taxis operates pre-booked journeys across Sussex, including airport transfers to Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Stansted and Southampton Airport.
Travelling from Brighton and Mid Sussex
Some of the busiest airport routes during bad weather are journeys connecting Brighton, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath with Gatwick.
These journeys are normally straightforward, but conditions on local roads and the A23 can change quickly during heavy rain. Drivers may need to reduce speed or use alternative routes if there is an incident ahead.
Do not ask a driver to make up lost time caused by weather. A safe journey is more important than maintaining a normal journey time in abnormal conditions.
If your train is cancelled, should you switch to a taxi?
It depends on your journey and how urgent it is.
If you have an airport check-in deadline, switching to a pre-booked road journey may give you more control over the remaining part of your trip. However, road traffic can also be affected by severe weather, so a taxi should not be treated as a guarantee against delays.
The best approach is to compare your remaining rail options with current road conditions and make the decision as early as possible.
Should you leave earlier for the airport?
In unsettled weather, usually yes, but the amount of extra time should depend on where you are travelling from, current road conditions and your airline's check-in requirements.
Adding a sensible buffer is better than leaving extremely early without reason. Check conditions first, then adjust your pickup time accordingly.
Travelling during Storm Boelo?
Pre-book your Sussex airport transfer before you travel. We provide 24/7 airport transfers across Sussex with flight monitoring for airport bookings.
Storm Boelo Sussex travel FAQs
Is Storm Boelo directly hitting Sussex?
The strongest winds from Storm Boelo are forecast further north across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Sussex can still experience wet, windy and unsettled conditions as the wider weather system moves across the UK.
Are trains in Sussex affected by the storms?
Severe weather has already caused disruption on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Expres