Strong winds disrupt power to over 16,700 customers in Yorkshire and the North East

Strong winds forecast in Met Office weather warnings affected Yorkshire and the North East on Saturday 21 December and through the night, disrupting power supplies to over 16,700 Northern Powergrid customers¹. Northern Powergrid said the total was about five times the number of interruptions it experiences on a typical day¹.

The sequence of the operator's own updates shows how the figure grew. On the afternoon of 21 December it reported around 2,000 customers affected and over 1,100 reconnected, 57 per cent of those cut off³. Later the same day it put the figure at over 15,500 affected, with around 13,500 reconnected, more than 88 per cent⁴. By 22 December the total stood at over 16,700, with around 15,800 reconnected, 95 per cent². A second update on 22 December said teams had worked into the night and that the operator would stand down its major incident response as it expected disruption to be manageable through normal operations¹.

The areas named differ slightly between updates. The warning issued on 20 December covered the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire for Saturday and Sunday⁵. Later updates refer to North Yorkshire and the North East⁴, and the 22 December statements to Yorkshire and the North East¹. Northern Powergrid said the strong wind would continue through 22 December but that the forecast for the festive period looked much more stable, with no further disruption expected¹.

Why it matters for households

The affected area covers Northern Powergrid's patch in Yorkshire and the North East, and the operator says 95 per cent of those cut off had been reconnected by 22 December, leaving a small remainder still off supply at that point². Households on the network can report a loss of electricity online, which Northern Powergrid says helps it identify the problem more quickly, or by calling 105; it also offers a WhatsApp reporting number, 0191 687 22 54, available Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm⁵. The free national power cut line is 105⁵. Our guides on how to report a loss of electricity and on how long restoration takes set out what to expect.

Northern Powergrid said it had been proactively contacting vulnerable customers registered for its free Priority Services Membership, and that members affected by a cut are contacted with an estimate of when power is likely to return and asked whether they need additional support⁵. The membership can be joined online, by email at priorityservices@northernpowergrid.com or on 0800 169 2996⁵. Our pages on the Priority Services Register and on extra help during long outages explain who can join and what it provides.

In its pre-storm advice, the operator asked households to keep a charged phone with key numbers including 105, to turn off appliances at the socket, particularly heating and cooking appliances, because power could return at any time and cause a safety hazard, to leave one light switched on so restoration is visible, to keep a battery or wind-up torch rather than candles, to check on elderly or sick neighbours and relatives, and to keep warm clothing, blankets and food and drink that needs no electricity to prepare⁵. It asked people to call 999 only in an emergency⁵. It also asked anyone who spots fallen trees on power lines or poles, or damaged cables, to stay well clear and call 105 immediately¹. Our guides on storms and the electricity network, checking on neighbours and relatives and driving safely in strong winds cover preparation and travel.

What happens next

Northern Powergrid said its teams remain ready over the holiday period and that it is not expecting further disruption, with the festive forecast much more stable¹. It has not reported how many customers remained off supply after its 22 December updates, or when it expected the last supplies to be restored.