Storm Floris named as Northern Ireland braces for disruptive weather

Storm Floris has officially been named by the Met Office, with forecasters warning of unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds across the northern half of the UK early next week.

A yellow wind warning has been issued for Northern Ireland, northern England, north Wales and all of Scotland, in anticipation of the storm’s impact.

The warning will be in effect from 06:00 on Monday 4 August until 06:00 on Tuesday 5 August 2025.

The Met Office said Storm Floris is expected to bring widespread gusts of 40-50mph inland, with 60-70mph gusts likely on high ground and exposed coastal areas, particularly in Scotland.

In some locations, wind speeds could even reach up to 85mph, raising the potential for disruption to transport, power supplies, and outdoor activities.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert explained:

“Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.”

The storm’s arrival follows a weekend forecast of sunshine and showers, with conditions expected to deteriorate significantly by Monday morning.

A Met Office spokesperson added:

“Storm Floris will bring a spell of unusually windy weather for the time of year across the northern half of the UK early next week. The strongest winds are most likely to occur across Scotland during Monday afternoon and night, although there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris.

“Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.”

Winds are expected to begin easing from the west late on Monday but will remain strong in the east of the warning area until early Tuesday.

Sixth named storm of the 2024-2025 season

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/2025 storm season, following Storm Éowyn in January. While named storms are more common in autumn and winter, the Met Office noted that summer storms such as Floris are not unprecedented.

Stay up to date

The public is urged to monitor the latest weather updates through the Met Office website, YouTube, and social media platforms including X and Facebook. The Met Office mobile app is also available for download via the App Store and Google Play.