UK weather: Storm Ashley named as amber warning issued for 80mph winds, Met Office warns of power outages

Storm Ashley has been officially named by Met Éireann as it prepares to hit both the Republic of Ireland and parts of the UK.

The storm is expected to reach the UK early on Sunday, bringing with it powerful winds and heavy rain. This comes as the Met Office issued both amber and yellow weather warnings for wind, which will remain in place from Sunday (October 20) through Monday (October 21).

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tony Wisson said: "Storm Ashley will bring strong winds for most of the UK on Sunday before it clears on Monday, with a chance of some disruption across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northwest England, and West Wales."

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He added that the most severe conditions are expected on Sunday afternoon and evening in western Scotland, where wind gusts could reach 70-80mph in exposed areas. The amber warning has been issued in these locations, while gusts of 50-60mph are likely in inland areas, with 60-70mph possible along coastal regions.

The powerful winds, coupled with high spring tides, could result in disruption across the warning zones, including damage to infrastructure, travel delays, and power outages.

Amber warning for winds issued has been issued as Storm Ashley approachesplaceholder image
Amber warning for winds issued has been issued as Storm Ashley approaches | Met Office

Ashleigh Robson, Head of Transport Resilience at Transport Scotland, advised passengers to check for travel updates, particularly those traveling during the October school holidays. She said: "The Multi Agency Response Team will be in a position to take decisions, oversee the network, and advise the public as the storm sweeps into parts of Scotland.”

Robson also warned of potential challenges, including difficult driving conditions due to debris and falling trees, as well as poor visibility from heavy rain. Ferry services are likely to face cancellations, while rail and flight services may also be disrupted. "The decision to cancel services is never taken lightly, but the safety of passengers has to be the priority," she said.

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Storm Ashley is expected to pull away to the east on Monday, allowing winds to gradually ease. However, the unsettled weather will persist, with scattered showers and sunny spells forecast for many areas early next week. Longer spells of rain could also affect some regions as the week progresses.

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