Storm Boelo forces Aintree cancellation and puts Liverpool vs Brighton in doubt

Storm Boelo tore through Merseyside on Sunday, cancelling Aintree Racecourse’s Halloween Family Fun Day and raising serious concerns about Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield, though the match was ultimately set to proceed after officials assessed local conditions.

Aintree’s decision came early on Sunday morning after overnight wind gusts reached 44 mph and continued to worsen ahead of a planned track inspection. The cancellation wiped out the William Hill Old Roan Chase along with the wider family event. Racecourse management issued an apology to visitors, confirming that general admission tickets would be refunded automatically and that hospitality bookers would be contacted directly.

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings across Merseyside, citing risks of dangerous flying debris, power outages, and widespread disruption from high winds and heavy rainfall. Those conditions prompted safety reviews of several major events and venues across the region.

For the Liverpool vs Brighton fixture, officials weighed safety concerns for spectators and staff against precedent from past storm cancellations before concluding the game should go ahead. Fans travelling to Anfield were urged to monitor the club’s official communications for any last-minute updates before setting off, with match organisers stressing that welfare would take precedence over the fixture if conditions deteriorated further.

Beyond Anfield and Aintree, the storm forced widespread closures across Merseyside. Liverpool Cathedral suspended all visitor tours, Knowsley Safari Park shut for the day, and Liverpool City Council called off the River of Light festival for a second consecutive night.

Transport networks also felt the impact, with rail operator Merseyrail running empty safety-check services before opening lines to passengers. Travellers were advised to check live travel apps and prepare for rail replacement buses on affected routes.

Forecasters noted that the core of Storm Boelo was beginning to clear Merseyside by Sunday morning, though strong winds were expected to linger into the afternoon. Blustery conditions and scattered showers were forecast to continue across northern England and Scotland before gradually easing.