Amber weather warning issued as Storm Floris set to bring 90mph winds

Scotland is being braced for “unseasonably” strong winds, as an amber weather warning comes into force across the country during Storm Floris.

The Met Office has issued an upgraded warning for strong winds, with gusts of 50 to 70mph forecast for many parts of the country and likely to reach 80 to 90mph on some exposed coasts, hills, and bridges.

Heavy rain is also forecast for some areas.

The forecaster has urged the public to stay indoors “as much as possible” with high winds creating a risk of injury.

Those outdoors are asked to avoid walking or sheltering close to buildings and trees.

Loose items, including bins, garden furniture and trampolines, should be secured, and those on the coast should be vigilant of large waves.

The amber warning comes into force from 10am on Monday and will remain in place until 10pm. A yellow warning is also in place from 6am until midnight.

Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm.

“Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland’s west coast,” it posted on X.

Transport Scotland said a multi-agency response team will be stood up for the duration of the weather warnings.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January’s Storm Eowyn was the most recent.

Insight Philip Petrie STV weather

Sunday has been a reasonable day weather-wise. We’ve been under the influence of a slight ridge of high pressure that has given us a more settled day with plenty of dry and bright conditions, and just one or two showers. The calm before the storm.

On Monday, we see the arrival of Storm Floris, our first named storm since Storm Eowyn in January, which is rapidly developing as it crosses the Atlantic, undergoing explosive cyclogenesis at the moment. It will be a powerful storm as it crosses Scotland, bringing with it heavy and persistent rain and strong, severe gale-force winds.

Storm Floris isn’t hanging around long, as by midnight Monday into Tuesday it will already have cleared out to the North Sea, leaving us in a north westerly airflow come Tuesday and into Wednesday with things turning settled and pleasant come Wednesday for much of the country.

Due to the severity of the winds and the impacts they will have, the Met Office have issued an upgraded wind warning today in addition to the current yellow wind warning covering the whole of Scotland.

The new Amber wind warning comes into effect Monday 10am and runs until 10pm covering much of central and northern Scotland including the Western isles. Within this warning area, we are likely to see gusts of 50-70mph quite widely, and up to 80mph gusts around exposed coastal parts.

This will, of course, have a huge impact on travel, causing ferry cancellations, train disruptions, and there is a risk of flying debris and trees coming down due to the time of year.

If we saw this type of storm during the winter it would likely cause less impacts, but because it is during the summer (when trees are in full bloom, it is hitting during the day and during the summer holidays) it will be more impactful.

Public urged to plan ahead

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: “Key partners have met to discuss preparations for next week and conditions will be monitored over the weekend and into next week.

“Given the unusual timing and the fact that some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm.

“Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country.

“This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however, the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don’t take any unnecessary risks. Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi-Agency Response Team, if required.

“I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector’s response. Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, SEPA, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.”

Where does the amber warning cover?

• Highlands & Eilean Siar (Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar)

• Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling)

• Grampian (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray)

• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian)

• Strathclyde (Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire)