Amber warning issued ahead of Storm Floris

As Storm Floris approaches the United Kingdom, weather alerts have been upgraded to amber for the majority of Scotland. The warning lasts run from 10:00 BST on Monday to 22:00, and there are warnings of danger to life as a result of storm damage to buildings and trees is predicted. From 06:00 BST on Monday, northern England, north Wales, and Northern Ireland are also suffering a yellow warning from 05:00 BST to midnight. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season, and the first since January.

The storm is yet to develop, but as the system approaches our shores on Sunday night, it is predicted that it will sees a rapid decline in pressure. It is predicted that it will bring unusually high west or north-westerly winds to swaths of Scotland. The amber warning covers a wide area that is far south of the country's central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh and also the Highlands. Even inland, inland there are forecasts of 50 to 70 mph winds. Winds of 80 to 90 miles per hour could be seen on abandoned coasts, hills, and bridges, while some models have even predicted 100 mph gusts that were first seen during Storm Éowyn in January. Between late morning and early afternoon, the worst of the winds would be in the western coastal areas of the warning zone. The strongest winds are forecast to coastal areas of Aberdeenshire as the storm spirals southwards by late afternoon and early evening. At this time of year, trees are in full bloom and are more likely to be toppled with branches cut off than during winter, when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded. Power disruption is also possible, but heavy rain and floods can be a further danger.

Yorkshire and Humber, north Wales, North West England, North East England, Northern Ireland, and all of Scotland, including Orkney and the Shetland Islands, are among the areas affected by the yellow warning. Along exposed coasts and high ground, several coastal areas are expected to see gusts of 40 to 50 percent with 60 to 70 percent possible.

National Rail has warned that speed limits are likely, and that journey delays and cancellations are likely. Trees that block tracks and damage power lines can also be knocked down by high winds. CalMac, the Scottish ferry operator, has sent a series of cancellation alerts ahead of the storm.

Disruption to sailing is anticipated across our network on Monday, August 4 due to forecasted high winds across parts of Scotland's west coast, according to a X blog.

Named storms in August are not that common. Storm Lilian struck the United Kingdom on August 23rd, just before the bank holiday weekend, closing down stages at the Leeds Festival and canceling Heathrow flights. Storm Antoni brought rain and sunshine to south Wales and south-west England in 2023, including Brighton and Plymouth Pride. Storm Betty arrived less than two weeks later, causing more chaos.

Both of the most notable August storms in the last 50 years

According to provisional data from the Met Office, the storm occurred in July after the UK's fifth warmest July on record. According to the Met Office, all four UK nations experienced one of their 10 warmest Julys, and July was the sixth month in a row for the UK in above-average mean temperatures. With 35 degrees on the first day of the year so far, the highest temperature of the season so far was recorded. 8C in Faversham, Kent.