Storm Ashley is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the UK on Sunday, BBC News reported.
The storm, which has been named by Ireland’s Met Éireann, poses a risk of transport disruptions, building damage, and power outages.
The Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for wind gusts reaching 70-80 mph (113-129 km/h) in western Scotland on Sunday.
A broader yellow severe weather warning has been issued for all of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of north-west England and Wales, with expected wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) inland and 60-70 mph (97-113 km/h) along coasts and in hilly areas.
Such strong winds are coinciding with high spring tides, increasing the risk of large waves and coastal flooding.
Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the 2024/25 season, is set to develop rapidly over the Atlantic on Saturday night, undergoing a process known as “explosive cyclogenesis.”
This phenomenon occurs when a storm’s central pressure drops by at least 24 millibars within 24 hours, resulting in a powerful weather system characterized by strong winds. This rapid development is often referred to as a “weather bomb,” a term derived from the US concept of “bombogenesis.”
Most regions of the UK will experience these strong winds on Sunday, with the north and west likely to face the most severe impacts. While Storm Ashley is expected to move north of the UK by Monday morning, windy conditions will persist throughout the day.