Storm Ashley: UK to be hit by strong winds and rain on Sunday
Storm Ashley has the potential to bring high waves and flooding along the coast.
Storm Ashley is expected to hit the UK on Sunday, bringing powerful winds and significant rainfall.
The storm, which was named by Ireland's Met Éireann on Friday morning, could lead to travel delays, building damage, and power outages.
The Met Office has announced a serious amber weather alert for wind speeds reaching 70-80 mph (113-129 km/h) in western Scotland this Sunday.
A broader yellow severe weather alert has been issued for all of Scotland and Northern Ireland, along with certain areas in north-west England and Wales. This warning is due to expected wind gusts reaching 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) inland and 60-70 mph (97-113 km/h) in coastal and elevated regions.
The winds align with the spring's highest tides, increasing the chance of big waves and flooding along the coast.
Picture credit: BBC Weather
The Met Office has issued an amber alert for strong winds, which will be in effect from 9:00 AM to 11:59 PM on Sunday.
Ashley, the first storm of the 2024/25 season, is set to rapidly intensify in the Atlantic on Saturday night, experiencing a process known as "explosive cyclogenesis."
This occurs when the main pressure of a storm decreases by at least 24 millibars within a 24-hour period, indicating that it is a powerful weather system accompanied by strong winds.
This phenomenon is occasionally called a "weather bomb," a term derived from the US expression "bombogenesis," which conveys the idea of a quick intensification.
The majority of the UK will feel the impact of strong winds on Sunday, with the northern and western regions facing the most intense conditions.
As Storm Ashley moves away to the north of the UK by Monday morning, the windy conditions are expected to continue all day Monday.
"Storm Names For The UK 2024/25"
The new season for naming storms kicked off on September 1 and will continue through August 31, 2025.
Ashley is the initial name on the alphabetical roster, which means the subsequent storm will be called Bert, and afterward, it will be Conall.
Storms can receive names from the Met Office, Met Éireann, or the Dutch meteorological service (KNMI) when they anticipate that the effects of extreme weather will be "medium" or "high."
It's believed that giving storms names helps people become more aware of the possible effects of extreme weather.
