Danger to life is “likely” as the first named storm of the season is set to hit the UK this weekend.
Storm Ashley is set to bring wet weather and winds of up to 80mph, with an amber weather warning in place for the northwest of Scotland from 9am on Sunday until midnight on the same day.
A yellow warning for the entirety of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and parts of northwest England and Wales has also been issued.
Gusts of 80mph could hit northwest Scotland and “injuries and danger to life is likely from large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties”, the Met Office said.
There is “a good chance” of power cuts in that area which could affect mobile phone coverage and buildings will probably be damaged, such as by tiles blowing off roofs, the Met Office added.
Disruption or cancellations to road, rail, air and ferry services are likely, as well as road and bridge closures.
Sunday’s strongest winds will sweep exposed parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with 70mph gusts likely.
But parts of western Scotland could see gusts of 80mph.
Broadcast meteorologist
Ashley, our first named storm of the season, is set to rapidly intensify this weekend, passing just to the north of Scotland later on Sunday.
So while England and Wales will experience some wet and windy weather, the worst conditions will be further north and west.
The UK and Irish met services have already issued a number of weather warnings with a risk of gales or severe gales for Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Cumbria, and western Wales on Sunday.
Western Scotland is likely to experience the worst of the storm, with an amber warning here of gusts up to 80mph in exposed areas.
The strong winds combined with high spring tides could lead to coastal overtopping.
Right now, Ashley has barely formed out in the Atlantic but it is set to rapidly deepen on Saturday night, interacting with a very strong jet stream and undergoing “explosive cyclogenesis” – this is where the central pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours, also referred to as a “weather bomb”.
Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the 2024/25 storm season, is set to develop on Friday near the coast of Canada.
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Saturday will see rain at times for many, but it’s generally set to clear to bring “a dry and fine end to the day for most”, according to the Met Office.
But by Sunday, the low-pressure system, currently approaching from the west, will bring stronger winds.
