Do not open doors unnecessarily during Storm Floris, Met Office warns

Telegraph

3 days ago

The Met Office has warned people to only open doors where 'needed' during Storm Floris.
The forecaster said the storm will bring 'unusually windy weather' for this time of year, with 85mph gales and heavy rain set to hit parts of the UK.
A yellow warning for wind has been issued for northern parts of the country from 6am on Monday to 6am on Tuesday.
In a post on X linking to advice on how to stay safe in a storm, the Met Office said: 'Storm Floris is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain for parts of the UK from Monday.
'Stay #WeatherReady and check out some advice from our partners about keeping yourself, your home, and your garden safe.'
#StormFloris is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain for parts of the UK from Monday
Stay #WeatherReady and check out some advice from our partners about keeping yourself, your home and your garden safe
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 2, 2025
Other advice includes 'open[ing] internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you', parking vehicles in a garage, secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and stay indoors as much as possible.
Forecasters add that if you need to leave your home, then try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees.
The Met Office said the strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night, but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris'.
It added: 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.'
The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office meteorologist, said: 'It's not that often that we get storms during the summer months, but it's worth bearing in mind that at this time of year we could see some increased disruption because of the fact that the trees are full of leaf and there are lots of outdoor activities planned.
'You may be camping, you may be trying to head to a festival... as a result, we could see some significant impacts because of not only the rain, but also the winds.'
The Met Office added that flying debris may cause injuries and pose a danger to life in places inside the warning zone, along with large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads, and properties.
Forecasters also said it was possible that tiles will be blown from roofs, and there may be power cuts, while rail, air, and ferry services could be disrupted.
Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
Named storms are more frequent in late autumn and winter but are 'not uncommon' for summer, the Met Office said. The weekend will see a combination of sunshine and showers before Floris hits.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency said the forecast rain will not counteract the impacts of the driest start of the year since 1976 but will provide some short-term relief.
The UK has experienced three heatwaves so far this summer, which have left four regions of England in drought.
Stuart Sampson, the Environment Agency national drought manager, said that river flows and reservoir levels continue to be a concern, adding: 'Everyone can play their part by using a little less water to ease pressures on our water supply.'