torrential downpours of Storm Floris create hardships for Scottish and Irish residents
Storm Floris Brings Record-Breaking Winds and Disruption to Northern Britain and Ireland
Storm Floris has swept across northern Britain and Ireland, bringing with it very strong winds and significant impacts. The storm has caused widespread disruption, with closures, power outages, and travel delays affecting various regions.
In Scotland, the provisional peak gust of 82 mph recorded at Wick Airport equals the highest recorded wind gust for August in Scotland [1]. Other parts of Scotland experienced gusts over 70 mph. In Northern Ireland, the storm equaled its August wind gust record with gusts of 66 mph at Orlock Head, matching records from 1962, 1973, and 1989 [1]. Some individual stations in northern Britain, like Dyce in Aberdeenshire, recorded their highest August wind gusts with a peak of 62 mph during the storm [1].
The extreme winds caused large-scale damage, including wind-felled trees, power outages affecting tens of thousands of people, damage to homes and vehicles, and travel delays. Wind speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour (approximately 124 mph) were reported in some areas, leading to widespread disruption in northern Scotland, Ireland, and northern England [2].
Glasgow Zoo and Edinburgh Castle are among the locations closed due to the storm, while travel advisories have been issued in certain areas. Roads and railway lines have also been temporarily closed in Scotland. According to supplier ESB, the power outage is due to Storm Floris. In Ireland, around 10,000 households, farms, and businesses are without power.
Storm Floris's strong winds were accompanied by heavy rain, with up to 30 mm of rainfall possible in some areas during its passage [1]. These impacts underline Storm Floris as an unusually intense early August storm for the region, with record-level gust speeds contributing to widespread disruption in northern Britain and Ireland.
Authorities had warned of disruptions from Storm Floris over the weekend, and some flights to the Scottish islands have been cancelled due to the storm. No new information about the impact of Storm Floris on farms or businesses was provided, nor were any new closures reported beyond Edinburgh Castle and Glasgow Zoo in Scotland.
[1] Met Office [2] BBC News
Weather-forecasting services accurately predicted the strong winds and disruptions caused by Storm Floris, as the Met Office warned of potential impact over the weekend. The weather conditions during Storm Floris were record-breaking, with gust speeds exceeding historical records in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
