Storm Ashley Brings Severe Weather to the UK

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to batter the UK with Storm Ashley, bringing potential disruptions and threats to life. The Met Office has issued several weather warnings, with amber and yellow warnings in place for various regions across the country.

Key Takeaways:

• The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Scotland between 9am Sunday and 12am Monday morning due to severe gales and potential threats to life.
• A yellow weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for south Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Dorset and Somerset between 3am and midday on Sunday.
• Heavy rain, accompanied by strong winds, will push east across the warning area through Sunday morning, with most areas expected to see 15-25 mm of rain and upslopes exposed to strong southerly winds possibly seeing 65 mm.
• The storm is expected to undergo "explosive cyclogenesis", more commonly known as a "weather bomb", which is where central pressure drops at least 24 millibars over the course of 24 hours.
• Parts of western Scotland are likely to see gusts of 70-80mph at times on Sunday afternoon, before winds ease through the evening and overnight.
• Residents in the affected areas have been urged to protect their property and people from injury, and to check for loose items outside their home and plan on how best to secure them.
• A Met Office weather warning has said that the winds coincide with high spring tides and large waves which may lead to a greater risk of disruption along coasts.

Statistics:

• 15-25 mm of rain expected in most areas
• 35-45 mm of rain possible in upslopes exposed to strong southerly winds
• 65 mm of rain possible in parts of Dartmoor
• Central pressure drop of at least 24 millibars expected over the course of 24 hours
• Gusts of 70-80mph expected in parts of western Scotland
• Yellow wind warning in place for all of Scotland, western and north Wales, Northern Ireland, and Cumbria from 3am this morning to midnight tonight
• Amber wind warning in place for much of the west of Scotland from 9am today to midnight tonight

Sources:

• The Met Office
• The Met Office weather warning