Storm Ashley is expected to hit the UK on Sunday with strong winds and heavy rain in several parts of the country.

Two weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office due to Storm Ashley.

An amber weather warning, meaning power outages, damage to buildings and public transport cancellations are likely in the west and north-west of Scotland, is in force on Sunday from 9am to 11.59pm.

The Met Office has issued a wider yellow weather warning for wind, with severe gales, power outages and travel disruption expected over the same period.

While the weather warning covers Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and north-west Wales, most parts of the UK are expected to experience windy weather on Sunday.

Winds will develop on Sunday morning, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected in some inland areas of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, while gusts of 60 to 70 mph are expected to hit the coasts and the exposed hills.

Strong gusts of up to 70-80mph are expected on Sunday afternoon and evening in exposed areas of western Scotland.

The Met Office has warned that flying debris, large waves and beach material thrown onto seafronts, coastal roads and properties from Storm Ashley could cause injuries and pose a “life threatening”.

The storm, which is the first named storm of the 2024/25 season, is also expected to disrupt road, rail, air and ferry services, as well as cause damage to buildings.

“There will be disruption and damage from fallen trees, blown floating objects and power outages from damage to power lines,” said Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Mogenic Society.

“Storm Ashley will also bring persistent rain to all parts of the UK and Ireland, which could lead to localized flooding where the ground is already saturated.”

What are storms in the UK called?

Storms in the UK are named when they are likely to trigger amber or red warnings, including risk to life, power cuts, property damage, disruption to travel and energy supplies.

The UK Met Office names storms in conjunction with the Republic of Ireland’s Met Éireann and the Netherlands’ KNMI.

“Storm designation helps communicate high-impact weather conditions so local officials and the public can take action and keep themselves, their property and their businesses safe,” Ms. Bentley said. I.

Although the main factor in determining the naming of a storm is the impact its winds will cause, rain and snow are also considered.

The Met Office, Met Éireann and KNMI are compiling a list of storm names suggested by members of the public. They then name the storms using this list in alphabetical order.

Ashley is the first name on the alphabetical list for the 2024/25 season, which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025. The next storm would be called Bert, followed by Conall.

Met Éireann has named the storm Ashley as it will first affect the Republic of Ireland, according to the Met Office.

The Met Office has urged residents in affected areas to check for loose objects around their properties to avoid them being blown away by strong winds and to plan their trips in advance, checking for delays and road closures.

Ms Bentley said I that “Storm Ashley will develop rapidly in the Atlantic on Saturday” thanks to the process of “explosive cyclogenesis”, that is to say when the central pressure of a storm drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

This allows the storm system, accompanied by strong winds, to develop rapidly in a short time.

With Storm Ashley expected to dissipate over the northern UK on Monday, strong winds could cause disruption throughout the day.