An intense summer storm is expected to sweep across northern Britain on Monday, forecasters said, bringing potentially life-threatening winds and waves.
Forecasters said the “unseasonably disruptive system,” known as Storm Floris, would most likely bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts that could exceed 80 miles per hour, especially in Scotland.
The U.K. Met Office issued an amber wind warning — a Level 2 out of 3 alert — for much of Scotland from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday. A broader, lower-level yellow wind warning, was also in effect for Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland, northern England and the north of Wales from 6 a.m. until just before midnight Monday.
“Much of Scotland is likely to see gusts of 50 to 70 miles per hour, with more than 80 miles per hour on some exposed coasts, hills and bridges,” said Dan Suri, a chief meteorologist at the Met Office. Areas under the broader yellow warning could see gusts of 40 to 50 m.p.h., and around 60 m.p.h. at higher elevations and along some coasts, he said.
The storm’s effects should be weaker elsewhere in Britain, though forecasters said gusts of 30 to 40 m.p.h. were possible in other parts of the country on Monday.
The Met Office advised people in the storm’s path to stay indoors as much as possible on Monday, warning that flying debris and large waves could present a risk to life. Officials also urged residents to secure outdoor items such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines and fences, and to take care along the coast where waves could “sweep you off your feet and out to sea.” Power outages are also expected.
Heavy rainfall is expected before the strongest winds arrive, particularly over northwest Scotland, as the system pushes in from the Atlantic.
Aiden McGivern, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said rainfall would be heaviest Monday morning across Northern Ireland, Scotland, northern England and the north of Wales, before moving through by Monday afternoon, as Storm Floris moves in.
“Then it turns very showery,” he said. “That’s when the winds really ramp up.”
Forecasters said areas on Scotland’s west coast were expected to see the most powerful gusts by late Monday morning, with the strongest winds shifting to northeastern Scotland by late Monday afternoon.
Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 season in Britain. While named storms are more typical in the autumn and winter months, the Met Office said that summer storms are not unprecedented, with Storm Lilian hitting in August last year.
Storm Floris is also expected to disrupt travel, potentially including road, rail, air and ferry services. Network Rail Scotland urged passengers to plan ahead and said additional employees, including chainsaw-trained staff, were on standby to clear any debris and fallen trees on the tracks.
Storm Floris is expected to clear Britain after Monday, though forecasters said it would remain breezy in the country, with gales possible in the far northeast during Tuesday morning before subsiding.
Nazaneen Ghaffar is a Times reporter on the Weather team.
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