Storm Floris lashes UK with record-breaking winds, causing travel disruptions in Scotland and northern England

LONDON, Aug 5 — Powerful winds swept across Scotland and northern England yesterday as Storm Floris brought an unusually intense summer storm to the UK, causing widespread travel disruptions and damage.

Gusts in northern Scotland hit 132 kilometres per hour (82 mph) — the strongest ever recorded in the country during August.

The UK Met Office issued an amber wind warning, the second-highest alert level, for nearly all of Scotland in an effort to reduce the storm’s impact. It noted that Storm Floris is “unusually strong for this time of year” and only the third storm since 2011 to trigger such a warning in August. Some gusts were expected to break previous records.

Scientists continue to link the rise in extreme weather events to human-driven climate change, as global temperatures climb.

Several train services in northern England and Scotland were suspended, with operators urging passengers to avoid travel. In Glasgow, a tree fell onto overhead railway wires, sparking a fire, while numerous trees were reported down in Aberdeenshire, blocking key roads.

Flight cancellations were reported, particularly from Aberdeen Airport.

In Edinburgh, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo parade was called off, and Edinburgh Zoo closed its doors for the day. Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s summer retreat in northern Scotland, was also closed to visitors.

By afternoon, around 22,500 homes were without electricity, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

Storm Floris is the second named storm to hit the UK this year and the sixth of the current storm season, which runs from September 2024 to August 2025. — AFP