Storm Ashley latest: Flights cancelled and River Severn bursts banks as UK on high alert over flood warnings

Storm Ashley has brought travel chaos and cut power to thousands as it pummelled parts of the UK with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain.

Dozens of flights were cancelled and diverted at airports including Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as flying debris and uprooted trees caused havoc on parts of the rail network.

Around 100 flood warnings were in place across Scotland, England and Wales late on Sunday night, with a further alerts in areas where flooding was possible but not expected, as the River Severn burst its banks, submerging the town of Worcester.

Power was cut to thousands of customers in Northern Ireland, where the Met Office had issued one of two amber alerts for winds it said would likely cause injuries and pose a danger to life.

As the eye of the storm passed over the Scottish Highlands on Sunday night, average wind speeds hit 85mph on Sunday, with gusts of at least 111mph provisionally recorded at the summit of Cairn Gorm.

A weather warning remained in force for much of Scotland until 9am on Monday morning, with the Met Office cautioning that “fallen debris and trees” could affect commuters.

Key Points

• Hurricane-force winds and gusts of up to 111mph winds pummel Scotland

• Around 100 flood warnings in place across England, Scotland and Wales

• Mapped: Where were weather warnings issued for Storm Ashley?

• What is a ‘weather bomb’?

Eight flood warnings and 12 alerts in Wales

00:18 , Andy Gregory

Natural Resources Wales has warned that flooding is expected in eight areas of the country, with lesser alerts issued – meaning flooding is possible – in a further 12 locations.

In Scotland, 47 flood warnings and a further 10 alerts have been issued, while England’s Environment Agency has issued 45 flood warnings and 96 alerts.

That brings the total across the three countries to 100 flood warnings and a further 118 alerts.

Hurricane-force winds and gusts of 111mph in Scottish Highlands

00:17 , Andy Gregory

Hurricane-force winds have been recorded in the Scottish Highlands, with gusts of up to 111mph at the summit of Cairn Gorm and 109mph at the peak of Aonach Mor, according to the Met Office.

Average wind speeds hit a hurricane-force 85mph at the observation station at Bealach Na Ba, near Applecross, and 81mph at Cairn Gorm.

Fire sparked after Storm Ashley brings down electrical cables

23:59 , Andy Gregory

Cork City Fire Brigade have shared footage of a fire sparked during Storm Ashley, as powerful winds brought down trees and electrical cables.

Giant moon replica installed on water in Somerset town deflates in ‘extreme weather’

23:29 , Andy Gregory

A giant replica of the moon installed on a historic waterway in a Somerset town has deflated in the “extreme” winds brought by Storm Ashley.

The ‘Fallen Moon’ installation by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram had “captivated” visitors and drawn more than 10,000 visitors to Bridgwater Docks since being unveiled on Tuesday, Bridgwater Town Council said.

But having “clearly brought joy and astonishment to so many” in the days since opening, the council lamented on Sunday that the installation may have been brought to an untimely end.

You can read more in this report:

Giant moon replica installed at Bridgwater deflates in ‘extreme weather’

Car pictured carried away by high tides in Northern Ireland

23:01 , Andy Gregory

A car appears to have been picked up by high tides on the coast in County Down.

Report of tree falling on overhead train line near Port Glasgow

22:30 , Andy Gregory

Network Rail Scotland has responded to multiple instances of debris blown onto overhead railway lines in western Scotland.

Its engineers were called to reports of a tree on the overhead wires between Bishopton and Port Glasgow, after earlier working to remove debris on the overhead wires at Troon on the Glasgow Central to Ayr line.

Waves breach sea wall and douse overhead train lines in North Ayrshire

21:59 , Andy Gregory

Network Rail Scotland has shared footage of large waves breaching the sea wall and dousing the overhead wires at Saltcoats in North Ayrshire earlier today.

Wind gusts exceed 100mph in Scottish Highlands

21:30 , Andy Gregory

Wind gusts exceeding 100mph have been reported in the Scottish Highlands.

102mph gusts were recorded at the Cairn Gorm summit, which saw hurricane-force wind speeds of 84mph on Sunday morning.

The Bealach Na Ba observation station near Applecross saw gusts of 96mph.

Gusts of 99mph were forecast to hit the station at the summit of Aonach Mor, just two miles from Ben Nevis.

Thousands without power in Northern Ireland.

21:00 , Andy Gregory

In Northern Ireland, NIE Networks said that at 5.30pm approximately 4,000 customers were without power in outages that hit as Storm Ashley batters the region.

Power had been restored to around 2,000 customers who had lost supply, NIE Networks said.

In the Republic of Ireland, ESB Networks said 53,000 customers were without power shortly after 5pm on Sunday. Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Dublin were the worst affected counties.

RNLI issues warning over Blackpool Promenade

20:29 , Andy Gregory

The RNLI has warned people to “stay safe and stay away” from Blackpool Promenade.

A statement on the lifeboat charity’s Facebook read: “The Met Office currently have the North West under a weather warning, and this especially includes the Blackpool and Fylde Coast with winds in excess of 60 miles per hour later in the day.

“The specific concern for the Blackpool coast is the high spring tides at 1.28pm today and 1.50am Monday morning, and potential flood risk to the Promenade area.

“The marine forecast for the Irish Sea for this time is for a mainly southwest wind, force 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time, decreasing 5 to 7 later.

“Blackpool RNLI is making preparations at the Lifeboat Station to secure equipment and the boat house, and the volunteer crews urge everyone tostay off the Promenade around these tide times, especially the sea wall areas for your own safety.”

Full report: Storm Ashley brings rail, road and air chaos as UK on high alert over flood warnings

20:02 , Jabed Ahmed

Storm Ashley brings rail, road and air chaos as UK on high alert over flood warnings

Wind speeds hit 81mph, Met Office says

19:29 , Andy Gregory

The Met Office has published a list of the highest wind speeds recorded so far today, including gusts of 81mph in Killowen, Northern Ireland, and 75mph at the Welsh village of Capel Cruig.

Mapped: Where and when are ‘danger to life’ weather warnings in force across UK?

19:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Storm Ashley mapped: Where are weather warnings in force across the UK?

Pictured: Galway prepares for Storm Ashley

18:26 , Jabed Ahmed

Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds

18:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Watch: Planes landing at Heathrow Airport face wrath of Storm Ashley’s 80mph winds

Network Rail advises people to tie down garden furniture

17:26 , Jabed Ahmed

Dozens of flight cancelled in Belfast and Dublin

16:46 , Jabed Ahmed

Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport due to Storm Ashley.

In a stamtent on X, Dublin Airport said: “Weather conditions have led to some airlines cancelling a small number of flights this morning. As always, passengers seeking updates regarding a specific flight should contact their airline directly.”

Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure said temporary tidal flood defences were being deployed along the River Lagan at high-risk areas such as Lockview Road and Cutters Warf in south Belfast.

SEPA issues updated statement after 36 flood alerts in Scotland

16:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Catherine Evans, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Scotland will experience the impacts from Storm Ashley this evening and into tomorrow morning. Coastal flooding will impact communities along the west coast and the islands, due to already high water levels combined with strong winds and large waves.

“While the risk is most significant around high tide times, our message continues to be: take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay clear of waves and water.  Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas. Don’t walk or drive through flood water as there may be hidden hazards.

“Flood Alerts and Warnings are in place.  We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required, so please do stay up to date through our website at beta.sepa.scot/flooding.

“We advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates for where they live, or travel through, directly to their phone. People can also check our flood updates for all the latest information and view the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.”

Glasgow bridge closed amid Storm Ashley chaos

15:01 , Jabed Ahmed

The Govan-Partick footbridge in Glasgow will remain shut today due to strong forecasted winds.

The Riverside Museum warned visitors of the closure in a post on Facebook.

The statement reads: “If you are coming by Subway today, alight at Partick station. The Govan-Partick Bridge is closed all day due to high winds.”

14:01 , Jabed Ahmed

The Enchanted Forest in Pitlochry, Perthshire – an autumnal attraction aimed at families where the forest is turned into a light show – announced it would be cancelled on Sunday, stressing the safety of attendees and staff was “of the utmost importance”.

A statement from organisers read: “Our operations team met on site this morning to assess the site conditions in light of Storm Ashley and various weather warnings and, in the interest of public safety, they have affirmed that it is not safe for the show to go ahead this evening.”

Mapped: Storm Ashley weather warnings

13:28 , Jabed Ahmed

ICYMI: Great South Run cancelled

12:58 , Jabed Ahmed

Sunday’s Great South Run has been cancelled because of high winds and rain expected from the storm.

Great Run, which organises the annual 10-mile race in Portsmouth, Hampshire, said weather conditions had not improved to a point where they could “safely stage” the event.

Organisers said the forecasted winds could compromise “event infrastructure, including our medical facilities” and that high tide levels, exposure along the seafront sections of the route and “potential debris” posed safety concerns.

What is a ‘weather bomb’?

12:24 , Jabed Ahmed

Meteorologists have said Storm Ashley will see a rapid drop of pressure as it moves in from the Atlantic on Saturday night – a phenomenon called a “weather bomb”.

A ‘weather bomb’ is an unofficial term for a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis, according to the Met Office.

Rapid acceleration of air caused by the jet stream high up in the atmosphere can remove air from the column, reducing its weight so causing pressure to fall at sea level.

This in turn sucks in air which converges from surrounding regions resulting in faster and faster rotation of the circulation.

That will result in high winds, which coincide with high spring tides - bringing a risk of large waves and coastal overtopping.

How is a storm named?

11:57 , Jabed Ahmed

Storm Ashley was named on 18 October as the first storm of the season.

A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause disruption or damage which could result in an amber or red warning.

When the criteria for naming a storm are met, either the Met Office, Met Éireann or KNMI can name a storm, taking the name from the latest list in alphabetical order.

The next five storms will be:

• Bert

• Conall

• Darragh

• Éowyn

• Floris

ScotRail issue travel advice

11:26 , Jabed Ahmed

Rail operator ScotRail also issued advice ahead of expected disruption on Sunday, urging those travelling to check their services are still running.

Scott Prentice, the strategy and planning director at the operator said: “In order to keep our customers and staff safe, speed restrictions will be in place as a precautionary measure on some routes in Scotland, which will mean longer journey times.

“Customers should check their journey before setting off, and keep an eye on our website, app or social media feeds for live updates.”

Flood warnings in place across Cumbria

11:11 , Jabed Ahmed

The Environment Agency has issued five flood warnings in Cumbria, advising residents to “act now”.

Highest tide level is expected around 1:45pm to 2pm and flooding is possible throughout the day, the agency said.

Areas most at risk include Roa Island, West Shore Park, Biggar, Biggar Bank, Ocean Road, Carr Lane, Vickerstown Promenade, Rampside areas, Cavendish Dock and Ramsden Dock areas.

What advice has the Met Office given?

10:56 , Jabed Ahmed

As it warns of powerful winds reaching up to 80mph, the Met Office has advised people in affected areas to check and plan how to secure loose items outside their properties.

Forecasters also suggested preparing for potential power cuts by considering gathering torches and batteries, and urged people to keep up to date with the latest forecast.

Ryanair warns of flight disruptions due to severe weather conditions

10:28 , Jabed Ahmed

Ryanair has warned passengers of the flight disruptions due to weather conditions brought about by Storm Ashley.

In a statement on their website, the Irish airline said: “Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling to/from Ireland on Sun 20 Oct should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.

“We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by these weather conditions, which are outside of Ryanair’s control and affect all airlines operating to/from Ireland Sun 20 Oct.

“Please be advised that due to Storm Ashley, we are monitoring potential delays to flights from/to the United Kingdom.”

Travellers have also been cautioned to check weather conditions and alerts before travel.

Full report: Weather warnings in place as Storm Ashley hits

09:59 , Jabed Ahmed

Weather warnings in place as Storm Ashley hits

Watch: Storm Ashley set to batter UK with 80mph winds

09:42 , Jabed Ahmed

Police Scotland issue warning to motorists

09:26 , Jabed Ahmed

Police Scotland have advised motorists to “plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible” ahead of the “strong likelihood” of disruption on roads.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “Make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is completely roadworthy, with tyre pressure and tread meeting legal requirements.

“Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged in the event you need to call for assistance and if it is likely you may be within your vehicle for long periods of time, take additional clothing and water with you.”

Four flood warnings and six flood alerts removed on Sunday morning

09:04 , Alex Croft

The Environment Agency has removed six flood warnings and four flood alerts on Sunday morning.

A flood warning means flooding is epected while a flood alert means it is possible. There are now 37 flood warnings and 135 flood alerts remaining.

The flood warnings removed are:

• North Bank of the Humber estuary in the east of Hull

• North Sea coast at Easington and Kilnsea

• North Sea coast at Hornsea

The flood alerts removed are:

• Humber estuary from Hessle Haven to Faxfleet

• Humber estuary from Lords Clough to Hessle Haven

• Humber estuary from Spurn Point to Winestead Outfall

• North Sea coast at Skipsea, Hornsea and Mappleton

• North Sea coast at Withernsea, Easington and Kilnsea

• North Sea coast from Staithes to Whitby including tidal River Esk

• River Teme at Stanford Bridge (flood warning removed but flood alert remains in wider area)

Storm Ashley mapped: Where and when are ‘danger to life’ weather warnings in force across UK?

08:44 , Alex Croft

The Met Office has issued “danger to life” weather warnings as parts of the UK brace for Storm Ashley to bring rain and winds of up to 80mph this weekend.

The first named storm of the season will initially hit Ireland on Sunday morning, where warnings for strong winds are in force across seven counties, including Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Donegal.

It will then track northeastwards and reach the UK early on Sunday morning, according to the Met Office, bringing with it likely power cuts, damage to buildings and travel disruption. Dozens of flood warnings are also in place.

Andy Gregory reports:

Storm Ashley mapped: Where are weather warnings in force across the UK?

Traffic Scotland warns of disruption to travel

08:25 , Alex Croft

Blue skies and calm waters as the north west prepares for a storm

08:06 , Alex Croft

The Firth of Clyde, off the Scottish west coast, is enjoying the calm before the storm this morning, according to one X user.

The area sits just south of the Met Office’s amber weather warning for wind.

Today’s weather warnings

07:47 , Alex Croft

Here are the Met Office weather warnings currently in place for Sunday.

The large yellow weather warning for wind across the north and west started at 3am and will be in place until 23:59pm tonight.

On the Scottish west coast, the amber warning for wind will be in place from 9am until 23:59pm today.

Meanwhile, the yellow weather warning for rain in the south west and south Wales is expected to wrap up by 12pm today.

Storm Ashley ‘just out to the west’

07:29 , Alex Croft

Storm Ashley is “just out to the west” and will bring “stronger winds with coastal flooding”, according to online forecaster Carlow Weather.

The forecaster posted a graphic showing the bank of rain striking the UK and Ireland from the west.

Irish forecaster warns of possible thunderstorms

07:10 , Shahana Yasmin

Ireland’s national forecaster Met Éireann has warned of the potential for thunderstorms.

x.com

How to stay safe at the coast as Storm Ashley approaches

06:30 , Shahana Yasmin

With Storm Ashley set to combine with the spring tide to bring potentially very large waves, the Met Office has warned that it is likely these conditions will cause injuries and pose a danger to life.

The Met Office has the following advice for keeping safe by the coast:

• Check the forecasts and tides in your local area

• Beware of large waves – even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea

• If walking near cliffs, take care, know your route and keep dogs on a lead

• In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

Irish forecaster provides update on Storm Ashley, predicts ‘very windy conditions today’

06:08 , Shahana Yasmin

Ireland’s national forecaster Met Éireann says Storm Ashley will bring “very windy or stormy conditions today, strongest along coasts of the northwest, west & southwest.

“Heavy rain will clear eastwards this morning,sunshine to follow for a time,showers/longer spells of rain spreading from the W.”

Ryanair warns of flight disruptions due to severe weather conditions

05:30 , Shahana Yasmin

Ryanair has warned passengers of the flight disruptions due to weather conditions brought about by Storm Ashley.

In a statement on their website, the Irish airline said: “Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling to/from Ireland on Sun 20 Oct should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.

“We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by these weather conditions, which are outside of Ryanair’s control and affect all airlines operating to/from Ireland Sun 20 Oct.

“Please be advised that due to Storm Ashley, we are monitoring potential delays to flights from/to the United Kingdom.”

Travellers have also been cautioned to check weather conditions and alerts before travel.

Planes struggle to land at Heathrow as Storm Ashley hits

23:53 , Andy Gregory

‘Fallen debris and trees’ could impact commuters on Monday, forecaster warns

04:59 , Andy Gregory

The continuation of powerful gale-force winds through to Monday morning means “fallen debris and trees” could impact commuters at the start of the week, Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said.

41 active flood warnings listed as Storm Ashley hits

04:30 , Shahana Yasmin

According to the Environment Agency’s website, there are 41 active flood warnings, which points to expected flooding, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, according to the PA.

These warnings include areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast, as well as the Wye Estuary.

Natural Resources Wales listed three flood warnings and 13 flood alerts, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency listed 16 flood warnings and 17 alerts.

Weather warnings in place for Scotland, Ireland, parts of England and Wales

04:10 , Shahana Yasmin

The Met Office has predicted heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph in several parts of the UK and warned that the storm is “likely” to bring a threat of injuries and danger to life.

All of Scotland and Northern Ireland and parts of north-west England and Wales are under a yellow warning to last till at least midnight on Sunday.

The north-west of Scotland is under an amber warning from 9am until midnight, and the weather service has warned that there is risk of “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties”.

What advice has the Met Office given?

03:58 , Andy Gregory

As it warns of powerful winds reaching up to 80mph, the Met Office has advised people in affected areas to check and plan how to secure loose items outside their properties.

Forecasters also suggested preparing for potential power cuts by considering gathering torches and batteries, and urged people to keep up to date with the latest forecast.

Police Scotland urge drivers to avoid unnecessary journeys

02:55 , Andy Gregory

Police Scotland have advised motorists to “plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible” ahead of the “strong likelihood” of disruption on roads, while Transport Scotland has warned of likely delays to public transport, including the country’s ferry network.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s head of road policing, said: “Make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is completely roadworthy, with tyre pressure and tread meeting legal requirements.

“Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged in the event you need to call for assistance and if it is likely you may be within your vehicle for long periods of time, take additional clothing and water with you.”

Temperatures in southern England to reach 17C despite ‘very blustery’ conditions

01:56 , Andy Gregory

Despite the wet and windy weather brought by Storm Ashley, temperatures are expected to climb to highs of 17C in southern England on Sunday, Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said.

“The strongest winds are likely to come through during the course of tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “It is going to be quite a bright afternoon but it’s going to be very windy and gusty out there, especially in the north of the country so don’t be sort of lulled into a false sense of security.”

The “very strong, severe gales” on Sunday coincide with high spring tides, which could also result in “very large waves”, warned Mr Stroud.

Outside of the warning zones, the rest of the UK, including inland areas, will still feel the impact of Storm Ashley with “very blustery” conditions and rain moving across the south and east of England, he added.

Flooding expected in nearly 60 areas

Sunday 20 October 2024 00:58 , Andy Gregory

The Environment Agency’s website is listing 41 active flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 132 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

The warnings include multiple areas of the River Severn, the south Cornwall coast and the Wye Estuary.

In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 16 flood warnings and a further 17 alerts, as far afield as Stonehaven, Ayr and Grangemouth.

Some 13 alerts have been issued in Wales, eight of them on the country’s south coast and three on the west.

Mapped: Where and when are ‘danger to life’ weather warnings in force across UK?

Saturday 19 October 2024 23:59 , Andy Gregory

Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the season will initially hit Ireland on Sunday morning, where warnings for strong winds are in force across seven counties, including Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Donegal.

It will then track northeastwards and reach the UK early on Sunday morning, according to the Met Office, bringing with it likely power cuts, damage to buildings and travel disruption. Dozens of flood warnings are also in place.

You can find more details on what to expect in this report:

Storm Ashley mapped: Where are weather warnings in force across the UK?

New weather alert for heavy rain issued in southwest England and south Wales

Saturday 19 October 2024 23:16 , Andy Gregory

A further yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued in south Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset between 3am and midday on Sunday.

Between 15 and 25mm of rain is expected to fall in most affected areas. However upslopes exposed to the strong southerly winds could see 35 to 45mm, while potentially as much as 65mm could fall on Dartmoor, the Met Office said.

BBC shipping forecast issues 30 gale warnings

Saturday 19 October 2024 22:48 , Andy Gregory

The BBC shipping forecast has issued some 30 gale warnings for locations in the waters around Britain, including near the Hebrides, Dover, the Thames and the Irish Sea.

Violent storm force 11 forecast issued in Shannon, Ireland

Saturday 19 October 2024 21:51 , Andy Gregory

The BBC’s shipping forecast is predicting violent storm force 11 in Shannon, Ireland.

On the Beaufort scale used to measure winds, 11 is the second highest reading, behind hurricane-force.

Storm Ashley ‘rapidly developing’ in Atlantic Ocean

Saturday 19 October 2024 21:16 , Andy Gregory

Storm Ashley is currently developing rapidly as it moves across the Atlantic, undergoing a process known as “explosive cyclogenesis”, according to the Donegal Weather Channel.

Storm Ashley to bring ‘wet and windy end’ to weekend, Met Office says

Saturday 19 October 2024 20:00 , Andy Gregory

Storm Ashley will bring a wet and windy end to the weekend, the Met Office has said, as it published this hour-by-hour forecast of tomorrow’s weather:

ScotRail issue travel advice

Saturday 19 October 2024 19:00 , Jabed Ahmed

Train operator ScotRail also issued advice ahead of expected disruption on Sunday, urging those travelling to check their services are still running.

Scott Prentice, the strategy and planning director at the operator said: “In order to keep our customers and staff safe, speed restrictions will be in place as a precautionary measure on some routes in Scotland, which will mean longer journey times.

“Customers should check their journey before setting off, and keep an eye on our website, app or social media feeds for live updates.”

Orange wind warning extended to more counties ahead of Storm Ashley’s arrival

Saturday 19 October 2024 18:36 , Jabed Ahmed

An orange wind warning has been extended to cover four counties ahead of Storm Ashley’s arrival on the island of Ireland.

Clare and Donegal have been added to the orange alert that initially covered Mayo and Galway.

The warning will be in place from 12pm to 9pm on Sunday.

Met Eireann said the first named storm of the season will bring very strong and gusty south to south-west winds, coupled with high spring tides.

The counties covered could see gusts of up to 130kph.

The forecaster said there was the possibility of coastal flooding, large coastal waves, displacement of loose objects, fallen trees, very difficult travelling conditions, dangerous conditions at sea, damage to power lines and potential power outages, and damage to already weakened structures

The rest of the island is covered by a yellow wind warning.

How is a storm named?

Saturday 19 October 2024 17:30 , Jabed Ahmed

Storm Ashley was named on 18 October as the first storm of the season.

A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause disruption or damage which could result in an amber or red warning.

When the criteria for naming a storm are met, either the Met Office, Met Éireann or KNMI can name a storm, taking the name from the latest list in alphabetical order.

The next five storms will be:

• Bert

• Conall

• Darragh

• Éowyn

• Floris

When will Storm Ashley hit the UK?

Saturday 19 October 2024 17:02 , Jabed Ahmed

Clouds will thicken and wind will strengthen in the early hours of Sunday, and outbreaks of rain will hit Northern Ireland and the west of the UK, Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said.

That rain will be heavy at times and accompanied by gales as the strong winds start, he added.

Western parts of the UK could wake up to 50mph to 60mph winds and heavy rain that day, particularly affecting exposed coasts and hills.

Sunday’s strongest winds will sweep exposed parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with 70mph gusts likely.

They could reach 80mph “or perhaps a fraction more” in parts of western Scotland, Mr McGivern added.

He said: “Those kinds of wind gusts could cause considerable disruption, damage to buildings, transport disruptions of the ferry crossings, for example.

“And also the risk to coastal communities of flooding because these winds coincide with high tides, so that risk is especially great.”

He added that the winds will continue through Sunday and peak in the evening.

Why is Storm Ashley coming towards the UK?

Saturday 19 October 2024 16:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said on Friday evening: “At the time of recording, Storm Ashley is on the other side of the Atlantic and a relatively shallow area of low pressure.

“It deepens rapidly as it gets picked up by the jet stream during Saturday and ends up as a particularly deep area of low pressure, with a widespread swathe of gales and wind gusts in excess of 60mph for many western and northern parts of the country.”

Scottish Environment Protection Agency issue statement

Saturday 19 October 2024 15:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Catherine Evans, SEPA’s Flood Duty Manager, said: “Scotland is braced for impacts from Storm Ashley over this weekend. There’s a risk of coastal flooding across much of the country due to already high water levels combined with strong winds.

“While the risk is greatest around high tide times, our message is clear:  take extra care if you are near the coast at any point and stay well clear of waves and water.  Be careful when travelling around exposed coastal areas and don’t walk or drive through flood water as there may be hidden hazards.

“Flood Alerts and Warnings are in place so stay up to date though our website. We will continue to work with the Met Office to monitor the situation 24/7 and review regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings as required.

“We advise people to sign up to Floodline to receive free updates for where they live, or travel through, directly to their phone. People can also check our flood updates for all the latest information and view the three-day Scottish Flood Forecast to see what conditions are expected further ahead.”

Great South Run cancelled due to Storm Ashley

Saturday 19 October 2024 14:30 , Jabed Ahmed

The Great South Run has been cancelled due to the high winds and rain expected from Storm Ashley on Sunday.

Great Run, which organises the annual 10-mile race in Portsmouth, said it has been monitoring weather conditions and they “haven’t improved to a point where we can safely stage Sunday’s event”.

In a statement, Great Run said: “The forecasted winds and gusts compromise our event infrastructure including our medical facilities at the finish and around the course.

“This combined with high tide levels, potential debris, and the exposure along the seafront mean that we can’t guarantee the safe delivery of the event. Safety of our participants, staff and volunteers is our number one priority.

“We haven’t taken this decision lightly and have been liaising closely with the Met Office, medical & safety teams, local authorities and key stakeholders throughout the week to make the best informed decision.

“We know how disappointing this is and we hope you can understand why this decision has been made. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Participants will be contacted by email about how they can either claim a refund or defer their entry to next year.

Flood alerts in place across the country

Saturday 19 October 2024 14:00 , Jabed Ahmed

The Environment Agency currently has more than 50 flood warnings in place, with flooding expected in these areas. There are a further 145 possible flood alerts.

The majority of the warnings and alerts are for the western half of the UK with the bulk of the warnings between Birmingham and Bristol.

Full report: Storm Ashley set to ravage parts of UK with winds of up to 80mph

Saturday 19 October 2024 13:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Storm Ashley set to ravage parts of UK with winds of up to 80mph

What is a ‘weather bomb’?

Saturday 19 October 2024 12:41 , Jabed Ahmed

Meteorologists have said Storm Ashley will see a rapid drop of pressure as it moves in from the Atlantic on Saturday night – a phenomenon called a "weather bomb".

A 'weather bomb' is an unofficial term for a low pressure system whose central pressure falls 24 millibars in 24 hours in a process known as explosive cyclogenesis, according to the Met Office.

Rapid acceleration of air caused by the jet stream high up in the atmosphere can remove air from the column, reducing its weight so causing pressure to fall at sea level.

This in turn sucks in air which converges from surrounding regions resulting in faster and faster rotation of the circulation.

That will result in high winds, which coincide with high spring tides - bringing a risk of large waves and coastal overtopping.

Transport Scotland issues warning

Saturday 19 October 2024 12:01 , Jabed Ahmed

Transport Scotland has warned of likely disruptions to public transport, including the country’s ferry network.

A statement said: “A windy period is expected across the whole of the UK on Sunday and into Monday, but across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and north-west Wales there is an increased chance of some disruption.

“These strong winds in conjunction with high spring tides may cause some disruption.”

Families travelling during the October school holidays have been advised to check for cancellations.

Mapped: Where will Storm Ashley hit?

Saturday 19 October 2024 10:58 , Jabed Ahmed

Irish Meteorological service issues guidance for Storm Ashley

Saturday 19 October 2024 15:44 , Jabed Ahmed