Knowsley Safari Shut for Storm Boelo in Merseyside 2026

Key Points

• Knowsley Safari will close on Sunday, 25th October due to Storm Boelo.
• A statement from the park stated the closure was necessary for the safety of all guests, animals, and staff.
• Guests booked for Sunday will be sent an email advising on how to reschedule the visit.
• If you have not been sent an email, you can contact the park via safari.park@knowsley.com providing your booking reference number and preferred date.
• According to the Mersey weather forecast, The Met Office has yellow warnings for wind on Merseyside between midday Saturday 24th October and 9 pm on Sunday 25th October.
• Liverpool is predicted to experience winds in excess of 50mph on Sunday, according to the Mersey Weather forecast by the Liverpool Echo.
• The Met Office warned of winds of 55-65 mph likely to occur widely, and winds of 70-80 mph likely in exposed and coastal areas, particularly in Scotland and Northern England.
• Storm Boelo will bring in addition to strong winds heavy rains, travel disruption, power cuts, flying debris, and potential damage to buildings and trees.
• Merseyrail has changed its Sunday timetable, with early trains running passenger-free to make sure that the lines are safe.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 24, 2026 – Safari will remain closed on Sunday, October 25, as Storm Boelo brings strong winds and heavy rain to Merseyside. The attraction announced the temporary closure to protect visitors, animals and staff during the severe weather.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the park said on Instagram: “Knowsley Safari will be closed tomorrow, Sunday October 25, to ensure the safety of our guests, animals and colleagues during the storm.”

The closure affects all visitors booked for Sunday. The safari park said people with bookings should have received an email with details on how to rearrange their visit. It added that anyone who did not receive an email should contact safari.park@knowsley.com, providing their booking reference number and preferred date for a future visit.

Why is Knowsley Safari closed on Sunday?

Knowsley Safari closed because Storm Boelo was forecast to bring dangerous winds and heavy rain across Merseyside. The park made the decision ahead of Sunday to reduce risks to people travelling to the site and to safeguard the animals and staff based there.

The Liverpool Echo reported that a Met Office weather warning was active from midday on Saturday, October 24, until 9pm on Sunday, October 25. The forecast indicated that wind speeds in Liverpool could exceed 50mph for much of Sunday.

In its statement, the park said:

“If you’re booked to visit us tomorrow, you will have received an email with details on how to rearrange your visit.”

It continued:

“If you didn’t receive this, please email safari.park@knowsley.com with your booking reference number and preferred date for your visit.”

Knowsley Safari is one of the region’s best-known visitor attractions. According to the Liverpool Echo, it is home to more than 700 animals, including lions, rhinos, bison, camels and baboons. Its foot safari also allows visitors to see giraffes, meerkats, tigers and sea lions.

What weather warning covers Merseyside?

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for wind covering Merseyside from midday on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday. The warning says Storm Boelo will bring a “very windy and wet spell” to parts of northern UK, with some disruption likely.

The Met Office said strong winds would spread across northern parts of the UK during Saturday afternoon, combining with spells of heavy rain. It said very windy conditions would persist overnight and through much of Sunday before gradually easing from the southwest later.

The national forecaster warned that gusts of 55–65mph were likely widely, while some coastal and exposed areas could see gusts of 70–80mph or more. It said the strongest gusts were most likely across Scotland and the far north of England.

The Met Office warning also highlighted possible impacts including power cuts, disruption to mobile phone coverage, flying debris, injuries and danger to life, damage to buildings and trees, longer journey times, cancellations and possible road or bridge closures.

How strong will winds be in Liverpool?

The Liverpool Echo reported that the Met Office forecast suggested wind speeds could reach more than 50mph in Liverpool for most of Sunday, October 25. The report said the conditions prompted Knowsley Safari to announce its temporary closure.

The same publication’s wider Storm Boelo coverage said Liverpool was forecast to have light rain from 9am on Saturday, with winds of 23mph. It said rain would become heavier from midday, when wind speeds were expected to reach 35mph, rising to 40mph by 1pm and then between 45mph and 49mph for the rest of the day.

The Met Office said heavy rain could lead to surface water flooding. Its warning for parts of Merseyside, including Heswall, said 25–30mm of rain was expected widely, with 50–60mm possible in some upland areas. Some of that rain could fall within six hours.

What has Knowsley Safari told ticket holders?

Knowsley Safari told ticket holders that Sunday bookings could be rearranged. The park said emails had been sent to visitors booked for October 25 with instructions on how to change their visit.

For visitors who did not receive an email, the park directed them to email safari.park@knowsley.com. It asked them to include their booking reference number and their preferred date for visiting.

The park ended its public message by saying: “Please stay safe in this windy weather. Thank you for your understanding.”

How is Storm Boelo affecting transport?

Storm Boelo is also expected to disrupt rail travel in Merseyside. The Liverpool Echo reported that Merseyrail would make changes to its Sunday timetable, with some of the first trains of the day running without passengers.

Merseyrail said the empty early services were intended to ensure rail lines were clear and safe to use. The operator said further services could be cancelled if problems were found.

Customers were urged to check the Merseyrail website or app before travelling because service information would be updated throughout the day. The Liverpool Echo reported that rail replacement buses would run between Sandhills, Rock Ferry and Moorfields stations as planned.

The Met Office said road, rail, air and ferry services could be affected by the storm. It warned that longer journey times and cancellations were likely, while some roads and bridges could close.

What other closures have been reported?

The Liverpool Echo reported that Liverpool Anglican Cathedral closed to general visitors on Saturday because of the forecast. The cathedral’s Lady Chapel remained open for scheduled services.

The newspaper also reported that a number of events had been cancelled and venues closed across Merseyside as Storm Boelo approached. It invited members of the public to report further cancellations or transport changes to its news desk.

Elsewhere, the Wirral Globe reported that thousands of people were still without power as the second storm hit the UK in just over 24 hours. It also reported that the Environment Agency had issued 22 flood alerts across England and a warning that flooding was expected at New Brighton, Merseyside, because of high tides in the Irish Sea.

What has the Met Office said about Storm Boelo?

The Met Office said Storm Boelo would approach the northwest of the UK during Saturday, bringing strengthening winds and outbreaks of heavy rain. It said strong winds could create large waves around exposed coastlines and cause travel disruption.

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.”

He said amber warnings were in place across mainland Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and the far north of England, where gusts of 60–70mph were expected widely. He added that gusts of up to 80mph were possible in exposed coastal locations.

The Met Office also said strong winds would affect other parts of the UK, with gusts of 50–60mph possible in places. It said heavy rain would create an additional hazard, particularly in the north.

Background of the development

Storm Boelo followed Storm Austen, which had already affected parts of the UK. The Liverpool Echo reported that a 33-hour yellow weather warning was issued for Liverpool and Merseyside as the region prepared for strong winds after Storm Austen.

The Met Office first named Storm Boelo ahead of the weekend, warning that it would affect Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of northern England. Deputy chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said the storm would bring strong winds and heavy rain, with gusts of 70–80mph possible in exposed coastal areas and high ground.

The warning covering Merseyside was later updated. The Met Office said the start time was brought forward and the warning area extended further south. It listed Merseyside among the North West England areas affected by the yellow wind warning.

The closure of Knowsley Safari forms part of a wider pattern of precautionary action across the region. Venues, transport operators and public bodies have adjusted opening hours, services and travel plans as the storm approached.

How will this affect Merseyside visitors?

For families and day-trippers planning to visit Knowsley Safari, the closure means Sunday visits cannot go ahead as booked. Visitors should check their email for rearrangement instructions and contact the park directly if no message has arrived.

People travelling elsewhere in Merseyside should expect possible disruption, particularly on Sunday. Rail passengers should check Merseyrail’s website or app before setting out, while drivers and pedestrians should take account of warnings about flying debris, surface water and possible road closures.

The development is likely to affect local tourism and leisure businesses during a weekend when outdoor attractions would normally expect visitors. For Knowsley Safari visitors, the main practical impact is the need to rearrange tickets rather than travel in unsafe conditions.

For Merseyside residents, the storm may cause disruption to journeys, outdoor plans and some public services. The Met Office advises people to check the latest forecast and warnings before travelling and to allow additional time where necessary.