Storm Amy latest: Britain battered as up to 100mph winds and rain bring power cuts and travel disruption

WorldEnvironment
4 Oct 2025 • 6:12 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Weather warnings are in place across the UK as Storm Amy batters the country, bringing close to 100mph winds and heavy rain.

Scotland is facing power outages, mainly in the Highlands which have been worst affected by weather. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said the network was working to restore power on Saturday morning for more than 60,000 people.

The first named storm of the 2025/2026 season has also brought travel chaos, with widespread delays to trains and flights.

The highest recorded gust on Friday was at Tiree in the Hebrides at 96mph, as it warned of “very strong winds and heavy rain” in northern and western areas.

The north of Scotland is covered by an amber warning for wind until 9pm on Saturday, with yellow warnings covering the whole of Scotland, the north of England and north Wales until the end of the day. A further yellow warning for wind runs until 7pm in the rest of England and Wales.

Yellow warnings for rain are in place in north and west Scotland until midnight and in Northern Ireland until noon.

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Key Points

  • Man dies as Storm Amy batters UK
  • Tens of thousands still without power in Scotland
  • Gusts of almost 100mph recorded on Friday, Met Office says
  • Storm Amy brings travel chaos as it sweeps across UK and Ireland
  • Weather warnings cover much of the country

Met Office updates weather warnings

12:45

,

Tom Watling

The Met Office has updated its weather warnings for parts of Scotland.

Network Rail Scotland issue update

12:31

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Tom Watling

Network Rail Scotland have issued a video update on the latest disruptions facing its services as a result of Storm Amy.

Storm Amy map: When and where up to 100mph winds will hit the UK

12:15

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Tom Watling

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In pictures: Storm Amy batters the UK

12:00

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Tom Watling

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Bus and rail services in Northern Ireland facing widespread disruption

11:46

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Tom Watling

Bus and rail services in Northern Ireland are facing major disruptions after the fallout of Storm Army on Friday.

Translink said there are delays across all their services. They said rail operations are suspended with a phased return expected from midday.

Glasgow Central Station suspends all services

11:29

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Tom Watling

Glasgow Central station has suspended all services until at least 2pm on Saturday.

Trees fall on Scotland rail lines

11:15

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Tom Watling

Network Rail Scotland has posted pictures showing some of the difficulties it is facing today with Storm Amy.

Several trees have fallen onto the tracks, causing major disruptions.

Met office places whole of UK under weather warnings

11:00

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Tom Watling

Below, you can see the Met Office’s latest map detailing the warnings in place for Storm Amy today.

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Royal parks closed due to Storm Amy

10:44

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Tom Watling

All eight of the Royal Parks, including Richmond Park and Hyde Park, will be shut today due to Storm Amy.

In a statement on its website, the Royal Parks said: “Due to severe wind gusts caused by Storm Amy, all of the royal parks, plus Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens will be closed on Saturday October 4.

“This closure includes all park roads and cycleways, cafes and kiosks, parks sports venues, the Serpentine lido and boating lake, and the royal parks shop.”

Opening times on Sunday will also be delayed because of safety inspections.

Scottish ferry service facing significant delays

10:30

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Tom Watling

Scottish ferry company CalMac has announced it is expecting major delays on Saturday due to Storm Amy.

Scotrail facing 'considerable disruption'

10:15

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Tom Watling

Scotrail has said there will be “considerable disruption” to train services as Storm Amy batters the UK.

“We’re advising customers to check their journey before they travel, via the ScotRail website, mobile app, or social media feeds,” said Mark Ilderton, the ScotRail service delivery director.

At least 60 incidents were reported on the network during the first two hours of the storm, as flooding and felled trees disturbing normal operations of service.

The Scottish government has urged people to delay travel if they can and to check ahead before setting off.

Hundreds of thousands of homes left without power in Ireland

10:00

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Tara Cobham

Hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power as Storm Amy brought widespread disruption.

On Friday, around 234,000 properties were left without power across the island of Ireland.

Tens of thousands still without power in Scotland

09:45

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Tara Cobham

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have said they are still working to reconnect power to 62,000 customers.

As of 7.30am on Saturday, power had been restored to 16,500 customers but thousands were still without electricity due to wind gusts in excess of 100mph from Storm Amy, officials said.

Fraser Wilson, of SSEN, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “Work will continue this morning to get 62,000 people reconnected.

“We expect because of the extent of damage to the network and conditions we are still going to be facing today that this will take some time, this storm is not over by any means.”

Weather warnings cover much of the country

09:30

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Tara Cobham

Much of the country is covered by weather alerts.

The north of Scotland was covered by an amber warning for wind until 9pm on Saturday with yellow warnings covering the whole of Scotland, the north of England and north Wales until the end of the day. A further yellow warning for wind runs until 7pm in the rest of England and Wales.

Further yellow warnings for rain are in place in north and west Scotland until midnight and in Northern Ireland until noon.

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Storm Amy brings travel chaos as it sweeps across UK and Ireland

09:00

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Tara Cobham

Storm Amy is bringing further disruption as it sweeps across the UK and Ireland.

Traffic Scotland reported a lengthy list of road closures due to the bad weather with the Forth Road Bridge closed in both directions, while the Skye Bridge, Queensferry Crossing and Clackmannanshire Bridge were closed to high-sided vehicles.

The Tay Road Bridge reopened early on Saturday with a 30mph speed restriction and remained closed to high-sided vehicles.

The M9 eastbound near Stirling was among many stretches of roads closed because of falling trees, while the A78 at Skelmorlie has reopened after being closed for a spell overnight because of flooding.

ScotRail anticipated that some disruption to services would extend into Saturday, and possibly Sunday, while Network Rail carries out safety checks for obstructions on the line and damage to any infrastructure. National Rail warned of possible disruptions throughout the UK on Saturday.

All services via Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street were suspended on Friday night and are not expected to operate until at least lunchtime on Saturday.

Network Rail Scotland route director Ross Moran said more than 60 incidents of flooding, fallen trees and debris on the tracks were reported across the network in the first two hours of the storm.

Avanti West Coast warned of “short-notice changes” on Saturday and “strongly recommended” customers making journeys north of Preston to check for updates before travelling.

CalMac Ferries said it expected many services to be disrupted on Saturday, with many routes cancelled, and into Sunday.

The M48 Severn Bridge between Gloucestershire and Wales was closed overnight because of high winds while parts of the A19 Tees Viaduct, the A66 in Cumbria and the A628 near Manchester were closed to high-sided vehicles.

Belfast International Airport said it was expecting delays on Saturday and advised passengers to check with airlines.

Gusts of almost 100mph recorded on Friday, Met Office says

08:30

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Tara Cobham

The Met Office said the highest recorded gust on Friday was at Tiree in the Hebrides at 96mph.

Meanwhile, a provisional October wind gust record for Northern Ireland was set as 92mph winds were measured at Magilligan in Co Londonderry.

Strong winds and heavy rain batter UK as Storm Amy hits

08:13

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Tara Cobham

Strong winds and heavy rain were causing further disruption as Storm Amy hit large parts of the UK on Saturday.

Much of the country was covered by weather alerts with wind gusts coming close to 100mph on Friday night.

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Man dies as Storm Amy batters UK

08:11

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Tara Cobham

A man has died as Storm Amy batters the UK.

On Friday, a man in his 40s died in a weather-related incident in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Ireland, gardai said.

Experts issue landslide warning

08:00

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Albert Toth

Geologists from the British Geological Survey have warned that the conditions forecast over the weekend have a potential to trigger landslides in the hardest-hit areas.

Western Scotland is forecast to see the strongest winds and rain, with an amber weather warning issued from Friday to Saturday morning.

Claire Dashwood, engineering geohazards geologist at the BGS, said: “Records show that landslides have been triggered in western Scotland by similar amounts of rainfall to that being forecast this week.

“Both natural and infrastructure slopes are likely to be affected with potential for disruption to roads and railway within the warning area, this could be particularly impactful in this area due to the presence of isolated communities and long diversion routes.”

In pictures: Storm Amy sweeps across Ireland

07:34

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Tara Cobham

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Storm Amy set to be 'notably strong' for October

06:00

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Albert Toth

With gusts of up to 100mph forecast, Storm Amy is set to be one of the most forceful to hit the UK in some time.

Past named storms since 2015 have seen gusts reaching 80-90mph, the Met Office says.

The highest wind gust recorded in the UK in October is 124 mph recorded at Rhoose, South Glamorgan, on 28 October 1989.

The highest gust speed recorded in Scotland in October is 106 mph recorded at Salsburgh, Lanarkshire, on 18 October 1984.

However, both of these events occurred before the Met Office started naming storms in 2015.

The Met Office says “it is possible” that Scotland could see record-breaking October wind gusts over the weekend.

Experts share power cut tips

04:00

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Albert Toth

Storm Amy is expected to cause damage to property this weekend, especially in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Paul Collins, technical director of NICEIC, has shared the group’s expert tips to deal with power outages.

First, having a ‘storm essentials’ kit will go a long way. The worst conditions have not yet hit most of the UK, so it may be worth considering stocking up.

Mr Collins said: “A fully charged torch is a must during a power cut. Keep your phone battery for communication purposes and for updates from your electricity provider. If possible, store a torch on every floor of the house in an accessible place – one being next to your bed – plus some extra batteries (if required).”

He also advises that households alert their provider as soon as they experience a power outage, as it may not be aware of the issue. This can speed up the process of having power reconnected.

Will Storm Amy stick around for the weekend?

02:00

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Albert Toth

Storm Amy is not set to begin clearing until Sunday morning, when it will move towards Scandinavia.

This means the adverse and often hazardous weather will remain for most of Saturday, with several yellow and amber weather warnings in place.

The Met Office has mapped how the storm will travel across the day:

92mph winds set new record

01:00

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Rebecca Whittaker

A provisional new October wind gust record for Northern Ireland has been set as 92mph winds were measured at Magilligan in Co Londonderry, the Met Office has said.

The forecaster said the gust was recorded on Friday evening as Storm Amy swept the country.

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How to stay safe in a storm

Saturday 4 October 2025 00:30

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Albert Toth

As Storm Amy batters the UK, it is useful to know how to stay safe in hazardous weather conditions.

Guidance from the Met Office advises what to do at every stage of the storm to ensure people stay safe and property undamaged.

During the storm

  • Stay indoors as much as possible
  • If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
  • Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences - if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
  • Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
  • If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
  • Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
  • Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible
  • Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle
  • Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary

ICYMI: Weather warnings on every region

Friday 3 October 2025 23:30

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Albert Toth

The Met Office put fresh yellow and amber weather warnings in place today as Storm Amy spreads across the country.

Every single region in the UK will be hit by the strong rain and wind, with no area not covered by at least a yellow warning.

Most of Scotland, the north of England and east of Wales are forecast to feel the worst effects from 3pm Friday, lasting until the end of Saturday.

The adverse conditions will then reach the rest of Wales and southern and midlands regions of England from 3pm on Saturday, from midnight to 7pm.

The amber warning that was in place on Friday for most of western Scotland will now continue into Saturday until late evening, shifting over northern Scotland.

Experts issue landslide warning

Friday 3 October 2025 22:30

,

Albert Toth

Geologists from the British Geological Survey have warned that the conditions forecast over the weekend have a potential to trigger landslides in the hardest-hit areas.

Western Scotland is forecast to see the strongest winds and rain, with an amber weather warning issued from Friday to Saturday morning.

Claire Dashwood, engineering geohazards geologist at the BGS, said: “Records show that landslides have been triggered in western Scotland by similar amounts of rainfall to that being forecast this week.

“Both natural and infrastructure slopes are likely to be affected with potential for disruption to roads and railway within the warning area, this could be particularly impactful in this area due to the presence of isolated communities and long diversion routes.”

Thousands of farms and businesses go without power

Friday 3 October 2025 22:00

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Rebecca Whittaker

Approximately 184,000 homes, farms and businesses across the Republic of Ireland were without power at 5.15pm during Storm Amy, according to electricity suppliers.

The ESB said affected properties were predominantly in counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal.

It also warned that further “power outages can be expected”.

A spokesman said: “Crews will continue the restoration work for as long as possible this evening, but it is likely that the majority of customers will not have their power restored tonight due to the hazardous weather conditions and accessibility challenges.”

Experts issue Storm Amy safety advice

Friday 3 October 2025 21:30

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Albert Toth

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued a public safety warning ahead of Storm Amy, which will bring severe weather to parts of the UK.

The group recommends:

  • Keeping mobile phones and essential devices fully charged in case of power cuts.
  • Avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary, especially on high or exposed routes.
  • Monitoring official weather updates and follow instructions from local authorities.
  • Secure outdoor items like bins, signage, and garden furniture to prevent damage.
  • Prepare a basic emergency kit with torches, batteries, and non-perishable food.
  • Stay indoors during periods of strong wind and ensure windows and doors are shut.
  • Check in on vulnerable neighbours, particularly those living alone or in rural areas.

Adrian Simpson, head of policy at RoSPA, said: “Storm Amy may be a serious weather event and we urge everyone to take sensible precautions. Securing loose items, staying off the roads during peak wind periods, and looking out for neighbours can help prevent accidents and keep communities safe.”

Man 'seriously injured' in storm Amy

Friday 3 October 2025 21:15

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Rebecca Whittaker

A man has been seriously injured in Co Donegal in an incident understood to be related to Storm Amy.

A gardai spokesperson said: “Emergency services are attending the scene of a serious injury incident involving a male in Letterkenny, Co Donegal today, October 3 2025.

“The incident occurred shortly after 4:15pm.”

Gardai are treating it as a weather-related incident.

Where are the yellow and amber weather warnings?

Friday 3 October 2025 21:00

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Rebecca Whittaker

Met office has issued yellow and amber weather warnings for wind and rain across the UK.

The warnings affect the north of England, north Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Friday and will progress to the rest of England on Saturday.

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Flood warning issued for Storm Amy approaches

Friday 3 October 2025 20:30

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Albert Toth

The Environment Agency has warned that parts of the UK may experience surface flooding on Friday and Saturday as Storm Amy brings heavy rainfall.

Sarah Cook, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Storm Amy is expected to bring heavy rainfall that may lead to minor surface flooding across parts of the north of England and Midlands this Friday and Saturday.

“Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and coastal paths, and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.

“People should search ‘check my flood risk’ online, sign up for free flood warnings, and keep up to date with the latest situation with @EnvAgency on X.”

Big Brother's first live eviction makes change due to Storm Amy

Friday 3 October 2025 20:15

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Rebecca Whittaker

Big Brother will not be airing its live eviction tonight in its usual location due to safety concerns over Storm Amy, The Mirror has reported.

The live eviction will be taking place on the set of Big Brother: Late & Live instead of the usual location, which is outside the main set.

Homes left without power in Northern Ireland

Friday 3 October 2025 20:00

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Rebecca Whittaker

Around 50,000 properties are without power in Northern Ireland due to Storm Amy.

NIE Networks said there had been a “significant level of damage to the electricity networks” in the region.

It also said the number without power is expected to rise further.

Alex Houston, NIE Networks operations manager, said: “Our incident management centre in Craigavon has been opened as have our local incident centres across Northern Ireland with staff across the company being escalated to assist with the response effort.

“We have mobilised additional call agents to deal with any queries customers may have regarding the repair process in their area.”

Storm Amy mapped: When and where 100 winds will hit

Friday 3 October 2025 19:30

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Albert Toth

The entire UK will be covered by weather warnings on Saturday as the first named storm of the season approaches, bringing gale-force winds of up to 100mph.

The Met Office has issued seven weather warnings ahead of Storm Amy, which is expected to bring “very strong winds and heavy rain” to northern and western areas on Friday, and all of the country on Saturday.

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ICYMI: Latest Met Office update

Friday 3 October 2025 18:30

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Albert Toth

The Met Office gave a fresh update Friday on Storm Amy as heavy wind and rain spread across the country.

Every region of the UK is now covered by a weather warning, with the meteorological body adding or extending the alerts on Friday morning.

There are now three amber warnings in place across Friday and Saturday, where a danger to live is posed. These are in western Northern Ireland and Scotland on Friday, and only northern Scotland on Saturday.

Meanwhile, there are eleven yellow warnings across the weekend, with every area covered at some point.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: “Storm Amy will be an impactful autumn storm for many in Scotland and Northern Ireland, though impacts will also spread to northwest England and Wales, as well as a more widespread windy period for the rest of the UK.

“Within the Amber warning areas, damaging gusts of around 100 mph are possible for a time on Friday evening for parts of western Scotland, especially Skye, Tiree, Barra and western Lochaber. This could lead to significant disruption, and brings the risk of power cuts and damage to buildings and trees. Elsewhere, gusts of 60-80 mph are expected more widely in the Amber warning areas, and slightly lower figures for those covered by Yellow warnings.

“Rainfall is an additional hazard, in particular over western Scotland, where totals could exceed 30-50mm in 6-9 hours, increasing the risk of flooding for some. A number of warnings have been issued covering the rainfall risk for the coming days.”

Red Cross issues advice

Friday 3 October 2025 17:40

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Albert Toth

As Storm Amy threatens to bring dangerous weather conditions to the UK, the British Red Cross has urged people to take precautions.

Laura Scott, the charity’s head of crisis response and resilience said: “We’re reminding people to take simple but effective steps now to protect themselves, their families, and their homes.

“Hopefully these will only be precautionary, but we know from our experience that many people are not prepared or aware of guidance that will help them better withstand extreme weather events, like floods, in advance.”

“We have practical advice that can make a real difference – from securing loose items in your garden to checking windows and doors, and making an evacuation plan for your household, including pets.

“We also urge people to keep an eye on local weather reports and guidance from local authorities.”

Bridge closure in Scotland as Storm Amy hits nation

Friday 3 October 2025 17:10

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Albert Toth

The Forth Road Bridge near Edinburgh has been closed to all vehicles amid heavy rain and wind from Storm Amy.

Traffic Scotland urged drivers to use the Queensferry Crossing instead. The footbridge remains open.

Clackmannanshire Bridge, Kincardine Bridge and the A1 Tyne Bridge are expected to be closed for high-sided vehicles.

The Met Office earlier upgraded its alerts for Scotland, with an amber wind warning over the Highlands, Western Isles and Orkney Islands on Friday.

The alert will remain in place most of Sunday for the far north of the country.

Storm Amy set to be 'notably strong' for October

Friday 3 October 2025 16:40

,

Albert Toth

With gusts of up to 100mph forecast, Storm Amy is set to be one of the most forceful to hit the UK in some time.

Past named storms since 2015 have seen gusts reaching 80-90mph, the Met Office says.

The highest wind gust recorded in the UK in October is 124 mph recorded at Rhoose, South Glamorgan, on 28 October 1989.

The highest gust speed recorded in Scotland in October is 106 mph recorded at Salsburgh, Lanarkshire, on 18 October 1984.

However, both of these events occurred before the Met Office started naming storms in 2015.

The Met Office says “it is possible” that Scotland could see record-breaking October wind gusts over the weekend.

Scotland prepares for power cuts amid Storm Amy

Friday 3 October 2025 16:10

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Albert Toth

Those living in parts of the Highlands and Western Isles have been warned of a “danger to life” from flying debris, potential power cuts as well as road closures and damage to buildings.

Aileen Rourke of SP Energy Networks said: “When extreme weather hits, the potential for damage to our power lines increases, which means power cuts can become more likely.

“We’re currently mobilising teams of engineers to the areas where we expect the weather to have the most impact so we can respond as quickly as possible.

“However, please remember our teams have to battle the elements too and weather damage can affect how easily we can access the affected areas.”

Northern Ireland braced for worse to come as schools closed

Friday 3 October 2025 15:50

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Albert Toth

Ireland’s forecasting agency has issued its highest-level warning in the north-west as Storm Amy brings damaging winds to the island.

People in Co Donegal were advised to “shelter in place” between 4pm and 6pm due to Storm Amy following the wind warning from Met Eireann.

It said this would mean fallen trees, damage to power lines, dangerous travelling conditions, structural damage and wave overtopping.

Meanwhile, schools across a large part of Northern Ireland were advised to close early as the high winds brought disruption across the island.

Forecasters said there would be damaging winds with every county on the island under weather warnings on Friday.

Wind speeds could reach up to 80mph (130km/h) along the most exposed coastal areas of the island, with fallen trees and power outages among the potential impacts.

Ferries cancelled in Scotland as Storm Amy sweeps in

Friday 3 October 2025 15:30

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Albert Toth

Ferry sailings from the west of Scotland are on “high alert” for disruption into the weekend as Storm Amy sweeps in.

CalMac has already cancelled a number of services on Friday.

An amber weather warning is in place for much of the west coast from Friday evening into Saturday morning.

A spokeswoman for the ferry operator said: “To ensure the safety of customers and crew, we have cancelled several sailings today and tomorrow, whilst others have been placed on high alert for further disruption. Some port offices will also be closed.

“As circumstances and conditions can change at short notice, in addition to checking our service status pages for the latest information on each route, customers can stay updated via our text service and app.

“Road conditions could also be affected in many areas, so customers should also consider building in extra time for their journeys to ports and ferry terminals.”

How to stay safe in a storm

Friday 3 October 2025 15:10

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Albert Toth

As Storm Amy descends on most regions of the UK, it is useful to know how to stay safe in hazardous weather conditions.

Guidance from the Met Office advises what to do at every stage of the storm to ensure people stay safe and property undamaged.

During the storm

  • Stay indoors as much as possible
  • If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
  • Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences - if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
  • Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
  • If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
  • Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
  • Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible
  • Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle
  • Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary

Pictures from south coast show wet and windy weather

Friday 3 October 2025 14:50

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Albert Toth

Pictures from Bournemouth, Dorset this morning show wet and windy conditions have reached coastal areas across the country.

Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland will be worst hit today, with yellow warnings not in place for the whole of the UK until Saturday.

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Weather warnings: where will be hit, and when?

Friday 3 October 2025 14:30

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Albert Toth

BBC meteorologist Matt Taylor has provided a useful graphic detailing what regions of the UK can expect the worst conditions and when.

Those in affected areas are advised to take precautions for the adverse weather, and only travel if necessary.

Updated yellow warning brings Amy to whole of UK

Friday 3 October 2025 14:10

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