Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, is set to batter northern parts of the UK from late Friday into Saturday, the Met Office has warned. Forecasters predict gale-force winds exceeding 80mph and heavy rain, particularly affecting northern and western regions.
Tom Crabtree, the Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, noted uncertainty about the storm's exact track but urged the public to monitor forecasts. 'The system will bring gale-force winds across northern and western regions, with gusts widely reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour inland in northern Britain, and potentially reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour in places,' he said. Even stronger gusts are expected on exposed coasts and hills, mainly in the north-west.
Heavy rainfall is also a concern, especially over western Scotland, where totals could exceed 30-50mm in six to nine hours, increasing the risk of localised flooding. Yellow wind and rain warnings have been issued for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of north and north-west England for Friday and Saturday, including a risk to life.
Transport Scotland has warned of travel disruption and advised motorists to check the Traffic Scotland website before travelling. Train, ferry, and air passengers should check with operators. Martin Thomson, a Transport Scotland spokesperson, said: 'Storm Amy is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of Scotland and we expect to see disruption to the transport network... The rain and wind will bring difficult driving conditions, such as reduced visibility and surface water, and are also likely to affect the ferry and rail networks.'
The Met Office has been naming storms since 2015 to improve communication of high-impact weather. This year's names begin with Amy, followed by Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, and so on up to Wubbo. A yellow rain warning is also in place from 5pm Wednesday covering west and north-west Scotland until Thursday.
