Storm Bram: Amber warnings in place as wind and rain hit UK

As the winds of Storm Bram continue to strengthen, the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings, including two amber alerts.

Gusts of up to 90mph (144km/h) are likely across north-west Scotland, with strong winds expected throughout Wednesday. Significant rainfall was recorded overnight; Whitebarrow on Dartmoor saw 94mm (3.7in) fall in the last 24 hours, while 60mm (2.4in) was recorded at White Barrow. In Treherbert, south Wales, 102mm (4in) of rain has fallen.

Amber Warnings in Force ⚠️

Amber wind warnings will come into effect for Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland later on Tuesday.

Storm Bram, named by Met Éireann (Ireland's equivalent of the Met Office), has been deepening rapidly on Tuesday as it tracks northwards to the west of the UK. While rain will continue to fall, the wind strength is now the primary concern.

• The Irish Sea & Scotland: The strongest winds will be felt around the Irish Sea coasts and in north-west Scotland, where severe gales are likely. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for this region from 16:00 Tuesday to 03:00 GMT on Wednesday, citing possible gusts of up to 90mph.

• Northern Ireland: An amber warning covers parts of counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone from 14:00 to 19:00 GMT. Gusts could reach 80mph, potentially causing damage to buildings and delays or cancellations across transport networks.

Yellow Warnings

Yellow warnings are also in place across the UK:

• West Wales & South-West England: A warning for wind came into force on Tuesday morning and remains active.

• Northern Ireland: A wider yellow warning is in place from 09:00 to 22:00 GMT on Tuesday.

• Scotland & North England: Warnings are in place from 12:00 to 23:59 GMT.

Further yellow wind alerts have been issued for a large area of Scotland, remaining in force for the majority of Wednesday. Gusts of 50-60mph (80-97km/h) will be widespread, with coastal areas potentially seeing speeds exceeding 70mph (113km/h). Disruption to travel and power supplies is possible in these regions.

Flooding Risk 

Storm Bram brings further rain to ground that is already saturated. Amber warnings for heavy rain across Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons have now expired, but the risk remains high following significant rainfall in the first eight days of the month.

Several flood warnings are in place across England and Wales, mostly linked to coastal flooding driven by strong winds. However, as river catchments respond to the deluge, localised flooding is anticipated. The Met Office has warned that fast-flowing or deep floodwater is likely, posing a "danger to life." Drivers are advised to avoid travelling under potentially hazardous conditions.

• Wales & South-West England: A yellow rain warning remains in force until 14:00 GMT on Tuesday.

• North-West England: Rain is forecast under a yellow warning until 15:00 GMT on Tuesday. Up to 80mm (3.2in) is forecast over the Cumbrian hills, which may result in flooding.

While the main band of rain will clear to the north-east during Tuesday, heavy winds are expected to persist in Scotland into Wednesday.

Who named Storm Bram?

While Storms Benjamin and Claudia—named by French and Spanish meteorological services—have affected the UK recently, Bram is the second storm of the season to be named by the UK, Irish, and Dutch storm-naming group.

We have returned to the 'B' name on the list, following Storm Amy. If medium or high impacts are predicted for a future system, the next storm after Bram will be named Chandra.