The UK is bracing for severe disruption as Storm Amy sweeps across the country, with the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning for parts of Scotland.

The alert, in force from 5pm Friday until 9am Saturday, warns of danger to life from flying debris, falling trees, and widespread disruption to travel and power supplies. Forecasters say gusts could exceed 95mph in exposed coastal and highland areas, while winds of 60–70mph are expected more widely.

Heavy rain will add to the risk, with up to 60mm expected in just a few hours across western Scotland. Flooding and difficult driving conditions are likely.

Risks and Disruption

Transport: Roads, rail services, ferry crossings and flights may face cancellations or delays.

Power: Strong winds threaten to bring down power lines, leading to outages in affected regions.

Property Damage: Roof tiles, trees and unsecured items may be lifted or damaged by the gales.

The Met Office has urged residents to “protect property and stay indoors where possible”, while emergency services are preparing for high callouts.

Ireland is also bracing for the storm, with Met Éireann issuing red warnings for violent winds in some areas, raising concerns of even greater impacts across the Irish Sea.

Storm Amy is the first named storm of the season, described by meteorologists as a potential “weather bomb”, and is expected to move eastwards through the weekend.