Unpredicted strong winds and excessive rain are expected to bombard the region, according to the Met Office's forecast regarding Storm Floris.
Storm Floris to Bring Unusually Strong Winds and Heavy Rain to UK Next Week
The Met Office has announced that Storm Floris, the sixth named storm of the 2024/2025 UK storm season, is expected to hit the northern half of the UK next week. The storm is predicted to bring disruptive and unusually strong winds along with heavy rainfall, particularly affecting northern Scotland, northern England, northern Wales, and Northern Ireland from Monday 4 August to Tuesday 5 August 2025.
The Met Office has issued a Yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland, north Wales, northern England, and Scotland from 6 am Monday to 6 am Tuesday. An Amber National Severe Weather Warning for wind covering much of Scotland until 11 pm Monday has also been issued, indicating the storm's unusual strength for this time of year.
Wind gusts inland are forecast to reach 40-50 mph, with higher and exposed areas seeing gusts up to 60 mph or more, and some locations in Scotland may break their August wind gust records. Alongside the winds, heavy rainfall is expected, with 20-30 mm across western and northern Scotland and up to 40-60 mm on elevated terrain, raising the risk of local flooding.
The storm is anticipated to cause significant transport disruption, including road closures, difficulties for high-sided vehicles, and cancellations or delays in rail, ferry, and aviation services. Authorities advise caution and travel planning ahead.
The Met Office advises those in areas under the yellow warning for Storm Floris to prepare for potential damage to buildings, injuries, and danger to life from flying debris and power cuts.
There remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Storm Floris, according to the Met Office. No warnings are in place for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before Storm Floris.
July 2024 marked the fifth warmest July on record for the UK, with a mean average temperature of 16.8°C, according to provisional figures from the Met Office. However, the weekend will bring a mix of sunshine and showers.
The warmest June on record for England and the second warmest June for the country as a whole occurred in the same year (2024). July 2024 was slightly below the warmest July on record in 2006 (17.8°C), as well as behind 2019 (17.2°C), 1983 (17.1°C), and 2013 (17°C).
Storm Eowyn in late January was the last named storm to hit the UK. July 2024 was the sixth consecutive month of above-average mean temperatures for the UK.
[1] Met Office. (2025). Storm Floris: Yellow wind warning issued for parts of the UK on 4-5 August. Retrieved from www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-metoffice-warnings/weather-warning-yellow-110723
[2] Met Office. (2025). Storm Floris: Amber wind warning issued for Scotland on 4-5 August. Retrieved from www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-metoffice-warnings/weather-warning-amber-110724
[3] Met Office. (2025). Storm Floris: What you need to know. Retrieved from www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/news/storm-floris-what-you-need-to-know
[4] National Rail Enquiries. (2025). Storm Floris: Disruption to train services expected. Retrieved from www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/STORM_FLORIS.aspx
[5] Highways England. (2025). Storm Floris: Advice for road users. Retrieved from www.highwaysengland.co.uk/travel-information/road-users/severe-weather/storm-floris/
- Despite the recent warmth experienced in July 2024, the UK is bracing for a change in weather, as Storm Floris, a strong windstorm, is predicted to hit the northern half of the UK next week, potentially disrupting travel and causing significant transport disruption.
- With Storm Floris's expected weather conditions, weather-forecasting agencies have issued warnings, including a Yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland, north Wales, northern England, and Scotland from 6 am Monday to 6 am Tuesday, and an Amber National Severe Weather Warning for wind covering much of Scotland until 11 pm Monday, specifically highlighting the storm's unusually strong winds.
