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The UK is bracing for significant disruption as Storm Floris, the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season, sweeps across the country. The Met Office has issued a "danger to life" warning, upgrading the threat level to an amber alert for a large part of Scotland, where winds are expected to reach an "unusually strong" 80-90mph.
The amber wind warning is in effect from 10am to 10pm on Monday, covering the majority of mainland Scotland and the Western Isles. This is in addition to a yellow wind warning for northern England, Northern Ireland, and parts of north Wales, which will be in place from 6am to midnight on Monday.
Widespread Travel Disruption
The storm's arrival has led to widespread cancellations and warnings across the transport network. Train operators, including LNER, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express, have issued "do not travel" notices for large parts of their networks. In response, Network Rail is set to close several routes from 12pm on Monday, including lines between Edinburgh, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Inverness, while other routes will operate on a reduced timetable with speed restrictions. Ferry services are also expected to face cancellations and delays, and the storm is causing significant disruptions at major airports. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Manchester airports have all reported numerous flight delays and cancellations. On the roads, motorists—particularly those with high-sided vehicles, caravans, or trailers—are urged to exercise extreme caution. The RAC and AA have advised drivers to slow down, avoid exposed coastal and Highland routes, and check for updates on potential road and bridge closures.
Safety Warnings and Advice
The Met Office has emphasized the potential for "danger to life" from flying debris, large waves on coastal roads, and falling trees. Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri highlighted that gusts of 50-70mph are expected across much of Scotland, with some exposed coasts, hills, and bridges seeing speeds exceed 80mph. The public is advised to take a number of precautions, including securing any loose items outside of their property and avoiding non-essential travel, especially within the amber warning area. It is also recommended to stay indoors as much as possible, be aware of potential power cuts and disruption to mobile phone coverage, and open doors with care to avoid being caught by strong gusts.
An Unseasonal Storm
Storm Floris marks the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season. The storm's arrival in August is considered "unusual" and "unseasonable," according to meteorologists and transport officials. This timing, during the height of the holiday season, is raising particular concern as many people may be on vacation or unaware of the severity of the forecast. The Scottish transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, stated that the multi-agency response team is on standby to manage the storm's impact. While the strongest winds are expected to affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night, heavy rain is also forecast to contribute to the disruption in places, with some hills and mountains in Scotland potentially receiving upwards of 40-60mm of rainfall. The winds are expected to ease in the west late on Monday but will remain very strong overnight into Tuesday in the east.
