Storm Floris latest: Winds up to 124mph hit UK – as 32,000 homes without power and plane filmed struggling to land
Key points
- Warnings in place – what you need to know124mph gusts recorded in Scottish HighlandsDozens of flights cancelled|Watch: Bumpy landing at airport100 Edinburgh Fringe performances cancelledCampervans blown over on major roadCheck the forecast where you are
06:32:33 Are you affected? We want to hear from you
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22:37:01 Rail disruption likely tomorrow as work continues to clear routes
Tomorrow may be free of weather warnings in almost every part of the UK – see our 18:55 post – but there will be a hangover from today’s disruption on the rails.
Passengers have been warned as such, with Network Rail working “tirelessly” to clear routes blocked by falling trees and debris.
But Network Rail Scotland’s route director said this work will continue into tomorrow.
“As the storm passes later this evening, our focus switches to inspecting routes which have been closed by fallen trees, debris and other damage,” he said.
“Our teams will work through the night, but this work will continue into Tuesday morning.
“We’ll use two helicopters to assist engineers on the ground. We’re grateful to passengers for their patience whilst we do this.”
22:00:01 10pm recap – what you need to know in five bullet points as Storm Floris passes
It’s 10pm, and two weather warnings in place for the northern half of the UK are set to expire in minutes.
If you’re just checking in, or you simply want a quick recap of today’s storm, here’s a summary in five bullet points:
- An amber warning for wind – which indicates a risk to life and injury – is in place for another hour for most of Scotland, while a less severe yellow warning covers northern England until midnight;Rail, road and ferry travel have been disrupted and Edinburgh Fringe events cancelled; More than 30,000 people were without power earlier, with dozens of flights grounded and one particularly bumpy landing caught on camera;
- Police received “multiple reports” of campervans blown over on the A87 between Broadford and Portree on Skye, while in Aberdeenshire the A96 was closed in both directions near Old Rayne because of fallen trees;The storm will cling onto Orkney and Shetland Isles until tomorrow morning, and showers will remain throughout the rest of Scotland.
21:15:00 Wind speeds topped 80mph at low-level Scottish site, data shows
The Met Office has just released the latest top speeds recorded during today’s storm.
It’s worth noting the overall top speed – the gust we reported at 17:55 – was clocked at a high elevation, going at 124mph.
But the top speed at a low-level site (which are most commonly reported by the Met Office) stands at 82mph – which is provisionally an August record for Scotland.
The speeds listed below were all clocked at low-level sites in Scotland, which better reflect the kind of conditions people faced during the storm:
- Wick – 82mphSouth Uist Range – 79mphKinloss – 79mphTain Range – 78mphInverbervie – 77mphTiree – 75mph
20:34:01 Brighter day ahead tomorrow with risk of scattered showers
Almost all of the UK is free of weather warnings tomorrow – see our 18:55 post.
That means things are looking brighter, but there are still rain clouds ahead.
Highs of 23C are forecast in the southeast, but keep an eye on the top left of the graphic below to see how showers could develop…
20:07:01 Seven tips to cope with a power cut – and prepare for the next one
Today’s stormed cut power to thousands, with many still without supply.
Below, the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks offer some tips on what to do when the lights go out, and how to be better prepared for any repeats:
- Turn off appliances and lights, but leave one switched on so you know when power is back;If you know your power will be switched off in advance, boil some water and keep it in a thermos flask;Try to avoid opening the freezer unless absolutely necessary, as it helps food stay frozen for longer. Food will keep for about eight hours without power, but make sure to check it when your electricity is restored;Get hold of a torch and keep extra batteries;Try to set up a plug-in phone, and charge your mobile ahead of the storm;Save important numbers on your mobile, or write them on a piece of paper;Make sure you have a battery-powered radio, and tune into your local station.
19:40:01 Watch: Edinburgh Fringe visitors disappointed after cancelled shows
“We’re a little disappointed our show got cancelled for tonight,” David, who was visiting Edinburgh, told us.
He was one of many who had travelled to the city for the events.
Jane flew up with her husband to see the Tattoo for his 60th birthday – see our 7.24 post for more on its cancellation.
But the pair will be flying back home tomorrow morning…
19:16:01 Cows take advantage after fence ‘blown over’
By Jenness Mitchell, Scotland reporter
Escaped cows were spotted on the loose in North Lanarkshire earlier.
Darren Young recorded this herd running down Carfin’s Elder Way/Taylor Avenue.
Young shared footage of the incident online, adding: “For anyone out and about in Carfin, looks like a couple of fences have been blown down and the cows are out in force.”
18:55:01 Warnings still in place – here’s the latest
While the worst of the storm has passed over much of the UK, warnings remain in place for the northern half of the country.
An amber warning for wind covers almost all of Scotland until 11pm tonight, according to the Met Office.
This means there is potential danger to life and the risk of injuries, particularly in coastal areas.
A yellow warning for wind will expire at midnight, stretching from Manchester, Liverpool and north Wales up to the northern reaches of Scotland.
This includes Northern Ireland.
Tomorrow, a yellow warning for wind is in place until 8am over the Shetland Islands and Orkney.
18:34:01 Hundreds still have no power in Ireland
Around 2,700 homes, farms and businesses remain without power in the Republic of Ireland.
ESB Networks said its crews will keep working into the night to restore supply.
More than 10,000 homes were without power earlier today, with Co Donegal and Co Roscommon among the worst-affected areas.
18:15:01 Your comments: A close call and clinging onto a tent
We’ve had some more messages in from readers affected by today’s weather.
Ellen Pope, from Birmingham, was camping in the Lake District when her tent bowed under the force of the wind at 3am this morning.
She was left “frantically” trying to recover lost pegs to keep it in one piece, before the wind pulled open a hole in the roof.
“So, I’m just sitting in the tent weathering out the storm and praying the tent doesn’t blow off,” she said.
In Bellfield Park, Inverness, Mark was out securing his bins when he realised a branch had been blown down.
Not only did it block the road, it also narrowly missed a car- as the images below show.