London’s annual Diwali on the Square celebrations have been cancelled on independent health and safety experts’ recommendation, with Storm Boelo bringing winds of up to 80mph to parts of the UK.

It comes as thousands in the south of England remain without power on Saturday.

Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the season, will bring a danger to life from flying debris and crashing waves and people should stay indoors as much as possible, according to the Met Office.

In a statement online, celebration organisers said: “With storms forecast on Saturday, the event health and safety leads have advised it would not be safe to carry out the build and set-up required to stage the event in Trafalgar Square on Sunday.

“The decision to cancel the event has been taken in line with their professional advice, with the safety of everyone involved the absolute priority.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and we know it will be disappointing for everyone who was looking forward to the celebrations, as well as the volunteers who have put so much time, energy and care into preparing for this year’s event.

“However, the safety of Londoners and visitors must come first.

“We are now considering other ways in which we can support people to celebrate Diwali in London this year.”

A large yellow warning for very wet and windy weather stretches across the whole of the UK’s north from midday Saturday to 9pm on Sunday, with the Environment Agency issuing 42 alerts in spots across England warning that flooding is possible.

As of 5.30pm on Saturday, it had also issued six warnings that flooding was expected at New Brighton, Merseyside, because of high tides in the Irish Sea, and also along the Cumbrian coastline and at Lee’s Bridge at Astley Bridge, in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

One X user complained they had spent 23 hours without power and faced a further 12.

Storm Boelo weather warnings for October 24-25

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The National Grid responded: “Our engineers are working to get supplies restored as quickly as possible, but there are currently dozens of cuts across Cornwall, due to storm damage & each one requires extensive repairs (lines down, trees fallen onto lines, snapped poles etc..)”

The electricity company confirmed on Friday night that engineers had restored power to more than 60,000 homes since the storm began.

The Met Office said the power cuts could potentially be replicated across the amber areas in the north this weekend.

Meanwhile, widespread travel disruption is expected to ferries and trains with TransPennine Express warning against all but essential train journeys on Saturday and Sunday,.

Avanti West Coast has strongly advised users not to travel north of Preston on Sunday, while ferries crossing the Irish Sea have also been cancelled and disrupted.

Rail passengers travelling from London to Scotland and northern England have also been warned to expect severe disruption through the weekend.

While London and the South East are expected to avoid the worst conditions, holidaymakers and weekend travellers heading north by train could face delays, cancellations and speed restrictions.

A yellow wind warning has taken effect as Storm Boelo threatens 80mph gusts this weekend (Jane Barlow/PA)

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National Rail has urged passengers to check before they travel, with several operators warning of disruption.

Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen which hit the South West on Friday, leaving thousands in the region were without electricity on Saturday morning, according to the National Grid map.

Storm Austen saw scores of trains and flights being cancelled, and part of Brighton's historic West Pier collapsed into the sea.

Pieces of the West Pier in Brighton falling off into the sea (Jamie Lashmar/PA)

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The Prime Minister warned on Friday that the UK could face “a winter of greater flooding” and said we are living in a world where “unexpected events” are “more and more common”.

Andy Burnham denied the suggestion that the Government is playing catch-up with civil preparedness as he attended a summit organised to learn from the summer’s record wildfires.

He said: “We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.”

Storm Boelo will reach its peak from Saturday evening (Brian Lawless/PA)

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Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “There’s more stormy weather to come as we go through this weekend, especially across northern parts – that’s where we’re going to see the strongest winds.

“Storm Boelo is arriving. It’s going to bring widespread rain and some very strong winds indeed, and it’s quick on the tails of Storm Austen which is now clearing away towards the east.”

He added: “All of us will see some fairly persistent rain particularly as we go through the afternoon.

“In the west it’s going to be fairly heavy, some high totals which could lead to a bit of flooding in places, and nonetheless there will be some significant spray on the roads.

“It’s the winds that were perhaps most concerned about, they’re really going to whip up some strong gusty winds across Northern Ireland, northern parts of England and also Scotland through the day – strengthening as we head towards the evening.”

Despite the fresh bout of severe weather, forecasters said much of England and Wales could look forward to brighter and sunnier conditions on Sunday once Storm Boelo moves away.