Leeds Festival Stages Shut Down Amidst Storm Lilian

Strong winds brought by Storm Lilian have forced organisers of Leeds Festival to close two stages, as the event kicks off its 25th anniversary.

The Met Office issued a warning for the region, predicting disruptive winds of up to 50-60mph, particularly in the early hours of the morning. Greg Dewhurst, a Met Office forecaster, advised festivalgoers to secure their tents, as the wind was expected to be at its strongest around dawn.

"The wind will pick up in that area through the night, particularly strongest towards dawn and then first thing in the morning," Dewhurst said. "So there could be potentially some impacts from those strong winds... it's worth making sure your tents are secured."

Beyond the festival site, the Met Office warned of potential travel disruption, hazardous road conditions, and power cuts across the region. Storm Lilian is anticipated to weaken and move out into the North Sea by the afternoon.

Network Rail confirmed they are closely monitoring the situation and have teams ready to implement measures to ensure safe and reliable rail services.

Roads surrounding Bramham Park, the festival site located between Aberford and Thorner, have been closed for the duration of the event. Around 90,000 attendees are expected over the bank holiday weekend, eagerly anticipating the music line-up.

Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and 21 Savage are among the headliners taking to the main stage on Friday. However, the festival's two smaller stages have been shut down due to safety concerns related to the strong winds.

Despite the weather disruption, Leeds Festival is expected to continue, with organisers working to ensure the safety of attendees and the smooth running of the event.