Storm Floris blasts northern UK with winds up to 80mph

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gq3n049jno

Version 18 of 23.

Damage and disruption as Storm Floris crashes into UK

Storm Floris has felled trees, cancelled events and cut power as it hit parts of the UK's north with rain and wind gusts of up to 80mph.

Scotland is bearing the brunt of the weather on what is its summer bank holiday. More than 22,000 properties were left without power, many planes, trains and ferries were cancelled and bridges were closed amid warnings of a "threat to life".

An amber warning is in place to 23:00 BST for most of Scotland, as well as a yellow warning that also covers northern England, north Wales and Northern Ireland.

Events including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and shows at Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick were cancelled on Monday.

South Uist in the Outer Hebrides recorded windspeeds of 80mph in the afternoon, the highest in the country, while other areas hit 70mph. There are widespread reports trees and campervans toppling over in the hardest hit areas.

Since midnight, 25mm to 50mm (1in-2in) of rain has fallen in parts of western Scotland, though the band of rain was lighter as it moved across England and Wales.

The yellow warning runs until will remain in place for the Northern Isles off the north coast of Scotland until 08:00 BST on Tuesday and 23:59 BST all other areas.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season, and the first since January.

Follow updates: Storm Floris bringing 'unseasonably strong' winds to parts of the UK

Amber weather warnings in place for most of Scotland as Storm Floris sweeps in

How do storms like Floris get their names?

Why does it always rain in the school summer holidays?

Train operator LNER warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday. Customers with tickets can use them until Wednesday.

Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday, saying tickets would be accepted on Tuesday instead.

Network Rail said several lines in Scotland would be closed from noon on Monday. All other routes have a reduced timetable and longer journey times. Winds as high as 78mph had disrupted services, it added.

ScotRail spokesperson David Ross told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that speed restrictions had been issued across all of its network on Monday.

Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings and warned of disruption across its network.

Most of Scotland's major road bridges have closed to high-sided vehicles and motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes.

Rod Dennis, from breakdown service RAC, said: "It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured."

Strong winds hit the coastal town of Largs in North Ayrshire

Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure Scotland was ready for the storm.

Angela Constance, the Scottish secretary for home affairs, told BBC's Good Morning Scotland that Storm Floris was "well and truly with us".

She encouraged people to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours during the storm, and warned those travelling on Monday to view it as "a winter journey" and take warm clothes.

Several flights have been cancelled in Northern Ireland due to the storm. Some outdoor spaces including parks and recycling centres have closed.

In the Republic of Ireland, about 7,000 homes are without power after the storm made landfall overnight.

Jim Dale, a meteorologist and founder of independent forecaster British Weather Services, warned those in areas affected by the warnings: "If you are venturing out, keep away from the forest, keep away from the woods, keep off the coastal plain."

Named storms in August are not that rare, with five taking place since 2020.

Last year, Storm Lilian struck the UK on 23 August just before the bank holiday weekend, closing stages at the Leeds Festival and cancelling Heathrow flights.

Storms Antoni and Betty brought disruption in 2023, while storms Ellen and Francis in 2020 were described as "two of the most notable August storms in the last 50 years" by the Met Office.

These two storms brought wind gusts of 79mph and 81mph respectively with transport disruption, coastal flooding and power cuts.

The storm follows the UK's fifth warmest July on record, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

All four UK nations recorded one of their 10 warmest Julys, and July was the sixth consecutive month of above-average mean temperatures for the UK, the Met Office said.

The first day of the month brought the highest temperature of the year so far, with 35.8C in Faversham, Kent.