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Storm Floris brings winds of 100mph, travel disruption and power cuts to UK Storm Floris brings winds of 100mph, travel disruption and power cuts to UK
(about 3 hours later)
Edinburgh military tattoo and festival events cancelled and trains badly affected, as forecaster warns of ‘uncharted territory’Edinburgh military tattoo and festival events cancelled and trains badly affected, as forecaster warns of ‘uncharted territory’
Storm Floris – live updates
Gusts of more than 100mph from Storm Floris have brought travel disruption, power cuts and the widespread cancellation of events across large parts of the UK.Gusts of more than 100mph from Storm Floris have brought travel disruption, power cuts and the widespread cancellation of events across large parts of the UK.
Central and northern Scotland was the area most affected on Monday, causing the kind of problems normally seen on a stormy winter’s day.Central and northern Scotland was the area most affected on Monday, causing the kind of problems normally seen on a stormy winter’s day.
Met Office data showed a gust of 134mph was recorded at the summit of Cairn Gorm in the Highlands, 1,245 metres above sea level. The strongest gust away from mountains was 80mph at South Uist.Met Office data showed a gust of 134mph was recorded at the summit of Cairn Gorm in the Highlands, 1,245 metres above sea level. The strongest gust away from mountains was 80mph at South Uist.
Storm Floris was the UK’s sixth named storm of the 2024-25 season and the first since Storm Éowyn in January.Storm Floris was the UK’s sixth named storm of the 2024-25 season and the first since Storm Éowyn in January.
Its arrival led to an amber weather warning across much of Scotland, with police advising against unnecessary travel. The alert, which warns of there being a danger to life, is in place until 11pm.Its arrival led to an amber weather warning across much of Scotland, with police advising against unnecessary travel. The alert, which warns of there being a danger to life, is in place until 11pm.
A yellow weather warning was in place across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of north Wales and northern England. It warned of “unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds” until midnight.A yellow weather warning was in place across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of north Wales and northern England. It warned of “unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds” until midnight.
Rail travel was severely disrupted, with LNER telling passengers not to travel north of Newcastle. Avanti West Coast advised people not to travel north of Preston.Rail travel was severely disrupted, with LNER telling passengers not to travel north of Newcastle. Avanti West Coast advised people not to travel north of Preston.
ScotRail said there would be a blanket 50mph speed restriction and many services stopped at midday. Posting on social media, the rail operator asked people who lived near railway lines to tie down garden furniture and trampolines because of the danger of them blowing on to tracks.ScotRail said there would be a blanket 50mph speed restriction and many services stopped at midday. Posting on social media, the rail operator asked people who lived near railway lines to tie down garden furniture and trampolines because of the danger of them blowing on to tracks.
The Forth Bridge was closed to doubledecker buses, motorcyclists and pedestrians and many other bridges were closed to high-sided vehicles. In Newcastle, the Tyne Bridge was closed to all traffic because of the wind.The Forth Bridge was closed to doubledecker buses, motorcyclists and pedestrians and many other bridges were closed to high-sided vehicles. In Newcastle, the Tyne Bridge was closed to all traffic because of the wind.
A number of campervans were blown over on the A87 road, which leads to Portree on the Isle of Skye.A number of campervans were blown over on the A87 road, which leads to Portree on the Isle of Skye.
The aviation analytics company Cirium said 68 flights from UK airports on Monday were cancelled including 12 at Aberdeen, the worst-affected airport.The aviation analytics company Cirium said 68 flights from UK airports on Monday were cancelled including 12 at Aberdeen, the worst-affected airport.
Monday’s performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was cancelled, the first time in its 75-year history that it had not gone ahead because of the weather.Monday’s performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was cancelled, the first time in its 75-year history that it had not gone ahead because of the weather.
A swathe of Edinburgh festival fringe events were also cancelled, with the Pleasance Courtyard and the Pleasance Plaza both closed until 6pm.A swathe of Edinburgh festival fringe events were also cancelled, with the Pleasance Courtyard and the Pleasance Plaza both closed until 6pm.
Edinburgh zoo closed at lunchtime because of the escalating wind speed.Edinburgh zoo closed at lunchtime because of the escalating wind speed.
School pupils in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles were warned that the delivery of some exam results, expected on Tuesday, would be delayed.School pupils in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles were warned that the delivery of some exam results, expected on Tuesday, would be delayed.
Floris is the strongest named storm to have occurred in the month of August. Since the naming process was started in 2015, there have been five named storms in August. The Met Office forecaster Peter Sloss told BBC Radio Scotland it represented “uncharted territory”.Floris is the strongest named storm to have occurred in the month of August. Since the naming process was started in 2015, there have been five named storms in August. The Met Office forecaster Peter Sloss told BBC Radio Scotland it represented “uncharted territory”.
Dr Jess Neumann, an associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said summer storms came with added dangers.Dr Jess Neumann, an associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said summer storms came with added dangers.
She said: “There is a potential danger to life as Storm Floris is due to hit during peak summer holiday time when people may be travelling or visiting unfamiliar places outside of their usual area. When the unexpected hits, that’s when people are the least prepared and most at risk.”She said: “There is a potential danger to life as Storm Floris is due to hit during peak summer holiday time when people may be travelling or visiting unfamiliar places outside of their usual area. When the unexpected hits, that’s when people are the least prepared and most at risk.”
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green co-leader, said the storm showed the need for urgent action to tackle the climate crisis.Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green co-leader, said the storm showed the need for urgent action to tackle the climate crisis.
Slater said: “We should not be seeing storms like this in August, but with climate chaos around us these kinds of scenes will only become more common and more severe.”Slater said: “We should not be seeing storms like this in August, but with climate chaos around us these kinds of scenes will only become more common and more severe.”
There were reports of fallen trees on roads and rail lines across the affected area as well as power cuts in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.There were reports of fallen trees on roads and rail lines across the affected area as well as power cuts in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was working to restore power to 22,500 properties in the Highlands and north-east Scotland, with more cuts expected later in the day.Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it was working to restore power to 22,500 properties in the Highlands and north-east Scotland, with more cuts expected later in the day.
Not everyone would be reconnected by the end of the day, the company said.Not everyone would be reconnected by the end of the day, the company said.
SSEN’s director of customer operations, Andy Smith, said Floris was the strongest summer storm it had seen in a very long time. “At the height of summer, we’ve mounted an operation that’s comparable in size to the ones we mobilise when a storm hits during the depths of winter,” he said.SSEN’s director of customer operations, Andy Smith, said Floris was the strongest summer storm it had seen in a very long time. “At the height of summer, we’ve mounted an operation that’s comparable in size to the ones we mobilise when a storm hits during the depths of winter,” he said.
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.”The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.”