Yellow weather warning issued for Northern Ireland as Storm Amy approaches UK

A deep Atlantic low-pressure system has been officially named Storm Amy by the Met Office, marking the first named storm of the 2025/26 season.

Storm Amy is expected to bring very strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of the UK from Friday 3 October, particularly affecting northern and western regions.

Strong Winds and Flooding Risk

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree said:

“Although there is still some uncertainty about the exact track Storm Amy will take, the system will bring gale force winds across northern and western regions, with gusts widely reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour inland in northern Britain, and potentially reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour in places. With even stronger gusts on exposed coasts and hills, mainly in the northwest.

“Heavy rainfall is also expected, in particularly over western Scotland, where totals could exceed 30-50 mm in 6-9 hours, increasing the risk of localised flooding. Forecasts and warnings will be updated as the situation becomes more clear, therefore it is important to keep an eye forecast for your area over the coming days.”

The Met Office has warned that Storm Amy could lead to disruption to transport, power supplies and outdoor activities, especially from Friday evening into Saturday.

Warnings Across Northern Ireland

A yellow warning for wind has been issued across all counties of Northern Ireland between 16:00 on Friday 3 October and 06:00 on Saturday 4 October.

Westerly winds are expected to strengthen through Friday afternoon, with peak gusts likely in the evening. Speeds of 50 to 60 mph are expected widely, with 60 to 70 mph possible for a time.

Exposed coastal and upland areas could see gusts in excess of 70 mph.

The strong winds will also be accompanied by spells of heavy rain, adding to the risk of flooding and travel delays.

Storm Naming and Weather Drivers

Storm Amy has been named as part of the Met Office’s storm naming protocol, which helps raise public awareness of potentially dangerous weather systems.

Meteorologists say the storm’s rapid development has been influenced by the remnants of Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda in the tropical Atlantic, which have energised the jet stream and contributed to Storm Amy’s formation.

The public is advised to follow the latest Met Office forecasts and National Severe Weather Warnings for updates as the storm approaches.