Storm Amy has barrelled across the UK, bringing chaos in its wake with fierce winds, relentless rain, and widespread disruption.
A gust of 96mph was recorded in Tiree, Inner Hebrides, overnight, the strongest so far, while Northern Ireland experienced its highest-ever October wind speed of 92mph in Magilligan, County Londonderry.
Storm Amy with Heavy Rain
An amber warning remains in place across northern Scotland as the Met Office warns of further risk from flying debris and power outages.
With gusts of up to 85mph still possible through Saturday night, officials continue to caution that damage and disruption are likely.
“The safety of visitors and staff is our top priority,” Royal Parks
Storm Amy Impact Overview
- 96mph gusts in Inner Hebrides, 92mph in Northern Ireland — October record
- Amber wind warning in place for Northern Scotland
- Yellow wind warnings cover the rest of the UK until Saturday evening
- Over 60,000 homes without power across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Cumbria
- Man in Ireland dies in “weather-related incident”
- All eight Royal Parks in London are closed for safety
- Glasgow Central trains suspended, 80+ trees reported downed on lines
Power and Transport in Turmoil
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported on Saturday morning that over 62,000 customers had lost power, with engineers racing to restore services.
Around 22,000 properties in Northern Ireland remained in the dark, while Wales and Cumbria also reported significant outages.
SP Energy Networks confirmed over 1,000 homes in Cumbria were still without power after what it described as “a very blustery night.”
Rail, ferry, and air travel were all hit hard. ScotRail cancelled numerous services ahead of the storm’s arrival. By Saturday morning, roughly 80 trees had fallen across rail lines, bringing services out of Glasgow Central to a complete halt until at least 14:00.
In Northern Ireland, rail services were suspended, and passengers across the UK were advised to check flight statuses due to the ongoing turbulence.
Weather Warnings and What’s Next
Although the storm is now slowly pulling away from northern Scotland, its impact lingers. The amber warning in place across northern regions will last until 21:00 BST on Saturday, with continued threats of gusts up to 85mph.
Yellow warnings remain in force elsewhere across the UK, with gusts expected between 45mph and 55mph, occasionally reaching 65mph in exposed locations.
These conditions are still strong enough to bring down trees and damage power lines, resulting in potential travel delays and hazardous driving conditions.
In response to safety risks, London’s Royal Parks have remained closed throughout Saturday, with opening hours on Sunday expected to be delayed for inspection.
Unsettled Skies and Storm Records
Heavy rainfall is expected to persist across northern and western Scotland. Meanwhile, as a belt of rain moves southward across England and Wales, it will weaken making way for brief sunny spells and scattered blustery showers.
Storm Amy has also shattered meteorological records. A barometric reading of 947.9hPa was recorded at Baltasound in Shetland, the lowest October pressure ever logged in the UK, breaking the previous 1988 record of 950.9hPa.
This unusually deep low-pressure system is the hallmark of unsettled weather, helping explain the ferocity of the storm.
Weekend Outlook and What’s Ahead
By Sunday, Storm Amy will have moved further into the North Sea. The UK is expected to see drier and calmer weather for the second half of the weekend, with much lighter winds.
Looking ahead, the next storm on the naming list is Storm Bram. Each year, the Met Office, Met Éireann, and the Dutch weather service (KNMI) release a new list of storm names with selections made by public vote.
Storms are named when their potential impact is deemed “medium” to “high”, and as Storm Amy has proven, the consequences can be far-reaching.
With unpredictable conditions lingering and more autumn storms likely, officials urge the public to remain alert. For the latest updates, always follow Met Office guidance and transport service announcements.
