The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning as Storm Floris is set to bring fierce winds to northern parts of the UK from Monday morning through to early Tuesday. Up to 26 cities across Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland are expected to be affected, with potential risks of power cuts, transport delays and damage to infrastructure.
The alert, which runs from 6am Monday until 6am Tuesday, comes as forecasters warn of wind speeds reaching 60-70 mph along exposed coasts and high ground, with inland gusts between 40-50 mph. According to the Met Office, the storm could also produce even stronger winds in certain areas, creating hazardous conditions for residents and travellers.
Storm Floris Set to Impact Power and Transport Networks
According to the Met Office, the yellow weather alert covers all major Scottish cities as well as Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, York, Bradford, Sunderland, Bangor, Belfast and Londonderry/Derry. The strongest winds are predicted to hit Scotland on Monday afternoon and evening, before gradually shifting eastwards overnight.
Authorities have warned that power cuts are likely across the affected areas, with possible disruption to mobile networks and other essential services. In addition, road, rail, air and ferry travel could be delayed or cancelled. “Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen,” the Met Office advisory states. “Injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible.”
Local councils and emergency services are urging residents to take precautions, including securing outdoor items and avoiding unnecessary travel in high-risk zones. The Met Office has also advised households to prepare for potential outages by gathering torches, spare batteries and mobile phone power packs.
Uncertainty Over Storm Track Adds to Risks
While the yellow warning is firmly in place, forecasters note there remains “some uncertainty” regarding the precise depth and track of Storm Floris. This means certain areas, especially exposed Scottish coastlines and high ground, may experience gusts of up to 85 mph, according to the Met Office.
Heavy rainfall is also expected to accompany the winds in some regions, which may heighten the risk of localised flooding and travel disruption. “Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly,” the Met Office cautioned, urging the public to monitor live updates.
Despite the uncertainty, the advice remains clear: residents and travellers in the warning zones should prepare for significant disruption. With strong winds expected to ease gradually in the west late Monday before moving east, the coming 24 hours will be critical in assessing the storm’s full impact across the UK.
