Storm Floris: expert comments

Professor Suzanne Gray and Dr Jess Neumann, from the University of Reading, provide expert comment on Storm Floris. 

For interviews, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk

Professor Suzanne Gray, Professor of Meteorology at the University of Reading, said: “Storm Floris started life in the west North Atlantic early on Saturday 2 August before rapidly tracking the 2,500 miles to hit Scotland today (4 August).
 
“It was a well forecast storm. The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for the northern half of the UK today on Friday 1 August. This has now been upgraded to an amber wind warning over most of Scotland, as confidence in Floris’s path and likely impacts increased.
 
“Floris is the 5th named storm of the 2024-25 storm season. The last storm was Storm Éowyn, which hit back on 21 January.
 
“While named storms are more common in the autumn and winter months, named storms do occur in the summer months. In 2024, we had storm Lilian in August (one of 12 named storms in 2023-24) and in 2023 we had storms Antoni and Betty in August (two of the four named storms in 2022-23).      
 
“Of the 77 named storms that have hit the UK since the Met Office first began naming storms in 2015-16, eight have occurred in the summer months of June-August. While most of these storms were named by the Met Office (in collaboration with Met Éireann and KNMI), some were named by other organisations.
 
“Storm Floris was analysed to have a minimum central pressure of 983 mb this morning (6 UTC, 7 am) as it approached western Scotland. Our last storm, Éowyn, was far deeper at 941 mb. Deeper central pressures are typically associated with stronger winds. The highest wind gust for Éowyn was 87 knots (100 mph) at Drumalbin, Lanarkshire, with wind spread gusts widely over Northern Ireland and Scotland’s Central Belt of over 70 knots (81 mph). By comparison, storm Floris’s winds are forecast to be slightly weaker with gusts of 50-70 mph widely and extremes of 80-90 mph over exposed areas. 

Dr Jess Neumann, associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said: “Large parts of Scotland and Northern England are under a severe weather warning as Storm Floris bears down on the UK.

“There is a potential danger to life as Storm Floris is due to hit during peak summer holiday time when people may be travelling or visiting unfamiliar places outside of their usual area. 

“Summer storms come with added dangers - unseasonably strong winds are a particular concern when trees are in full leaf and come at a time when people are less likely to be expecting severe weather. 

“When the unexpected hits, that’s when people are the least prepared and most at risk. 

“The message is the same as for winter storms - stay safe by staying informed of weather updates, avoid coastal areas and woodlands, plan ahead for journeys and be prepared for delays. Heavy rain may lead to localised flooding. If flooding occurs, do not attempt to drive or walk through flood waters, but seek a safe location.”