You might’ve heard the newest buzz already. Storm Floris is coming in hot—or better said, branches away to blow in fierce winds—across the UK with winds ready to hit up to 90mph. Yep! Absolutely! This one’s not your average rain shower to joy the sensation of normal rainfall; this is a “hold onto your hat” situation that is a severe thunderstorm, with an increased likelihood of hazards to human life and property.
The forecaster has announced at Met Office, and amber weather warnings have been put out for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The windfall starts at 60mph to possibly near 80mph to 90 mph winds, which carries a “danger to life” warning in some regions—a serious heads-up for everyone.
What that means: trees down, a higher chance of uprooting over electric poles, power outages, likely chances of a building collapse may go up, trains are already cancelled, numerous flight postponements and cancellations due to serious weather conditions, people should stay at home, etc.
In fact, many train routes are already shut down between 10 am to 10 pm on Monday, with others on slower schedules. Ferries? Cancelled. Commuters? Told to stay home if they could. It’s not just any normal Monday—it’s the kind where you might want to rethink that office commute or your plans to pop out.
Jack Mathew, a British journalist by profession, called up his mate Sarah, who lives in Manchester. She said, “The wind started rattling the windows early today (Monday, 4th August) morning, and the street was littered with branches by the time she had taken her breakfast.
Additionally, a yellow wind warning has already taken place in most of the regions, including northern England, Wales, and Northern Ireland till Monday midnight. Jack’s boss told him to pursue his work from home. Can’t say “mobile network works fine.” There’s something about looking at the current weather in and around the Manchester area is severely stormy, so it’s better to stay at home.
Scotland looks like it’s in for the worst. The Met Office’s forecast shows heavy cloudy rain predicted to move north, along with a bracing round of heavy rainfall and strong winds in northern England and Scotland. These regions are on high alert due to the worst of Storm Floris. The wind flows are anticipated to get stronger above 90 km/h. It’s going to break into everything from transport schedules to everyday life.
Schools and businesses might need to comply with complete safety, and Brits are wise to prepare—stock up on daily essentials, including water, high-energy canned foods, noodles, cheese, dry fruits, etc., some essential and regular medicines, and keep phones charged.
Several trains and ferries were withdrawn, and the Rail Network will close routes since noon on Monday. BBC said on Sunday, 3rd August, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and northern England should expect heavy rain.
Brits advised to stock up on bottled water!
In the meantime, northern England, along with other parts of the UK, issued a Yellow Warning to those regions. As of 6 am today, the alert is active, and it ends Tuesday at 6 am. Although from Tuesday morning, all will be much better, the north will remain wet and gloomy.
On the other side, Southern England isn’t getting hammered like the north. In fact, they’re facing warmer temps. Southern Rail even put out a reminder to carry water when using the trains and to call for help if you feel unwell in the heat. Funny how the weather can throw a curveball like that—storm up north, sunshine down in the south. A real “different strokes for different people” situation.
Meteorologists like Jim Dale sound optimistic, though. Floris should clear by Tuesday, leaving us with calmer weather. But until then, this Monday is looking more like a test of patience and preparation. It’s a day when you’ll want to put safety first, follow advice, and maybe pick a good book instead of battling the elements.
If you’ve got any travel plans, double-check with your carriers and prepare for delays or cancellations. Storm Floris reminds us how nature can still throw a spanner in the works. That said, it’s a good time to pull together, help neighbours, and take care of yourself. As my grandma used to say, “A stitch in time saves nine.”
Storm Floris Affects Edinburgh Fringe Military Parade – Cancelled:
If you were aiming to catch the military parade at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, you’ll need to hold your horses. The parade has been cancelled due to Storm Floris, the sixth named storm of this season. Scotland is on high alert for fierce winds hitting between 80 and 90 mph.
While some events, like the Oasis concert in Edinburgh, are still going ahead, others aren’t so lucky. The Fridge by the Sea festival in North Berwick has already been terminated, but will reopen again on 5th August (Tuesday) at 10 am. If events on Monday, August 4th, are cancelled or rescheduled, ticket holders will be informed via email.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society assured everyone that if any show gets cancelled, their customer service will contact ticket holders directly. So if you’ve got tickets, keep an eye on your email box.
Danger to Life – Weather Warnings Are Serious Business
This isn’t any old blow. The Met Office has cautioned about flying debris, giving a real “danger to life.” They strongly urge people not to open doors unless it’s absolutely necessary.
All people should choose alert over any upcoming threat. Scotland, brace yourselves—the storm is moving hard, and the damage could be significant. Think tiles coming off roofs, smashed windows, and other hazards caused by fierce blows.
Check on Your Neighbours!
Scottish Government Minister Angela Constance has urged everyone to check on their vulnerable neighbours and relatives.
Her words on Good Morning Scotland hit home: “If you have an elderly relative or neighbour who may be a wee bit vulnerable, please be a good neighbour, be friendly, just check they’re alright.”
She also advised people who must travel to treat their journey like a winter one—even though we’re in the warmer months. Pack warm clothes, plenty of food and water, fuel up your car, and keep your mobile phone charged up. In short, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Football Fans: Fingers Crossed for Aberdeen vs Hearts!
The Scottish football season is ongoing, and fans are watching the skies as Aberdeen gets ready to face Hearts tonight at 8 pm. With an amber weather warning over Edinburgh until 8 pm, travel routes could see delays and interruptions. Neither team has postponed the match yet, and Aberdeen’s tickets are flying off the shelves—so fingers crossed the weather holds out.
Storm Floris and High Chance Of Disruption in Mobile Networks:
Storms like Floris are unpredictable, not just the wind speed but also for the chaos they cause to mobile networks. Power outages and physical damage can knock out signal towers or slow down connections. While no major network breakdowns have been officially reported, things like this can happen.
If you’re a Zoiko Mobile customer, the good news is our network engineering team is on high alert to keep the network running. We are just set to install 5G network in your area, or if you need help, you can contact our helplines or email ID:
Head Office: +44 (0) 2071 646 399 | [email protected]
Glasgow Support: +44 141 530 1560 | [email protected]
Cardiff Support: +44 292 000 1374 | [email protected]
Check their website’s Contact Us page for more info.
Final Thoughts: Batten Down the Hatches!
Storm Floris serves as a subtle reminder that even in this day and age, nature can still toss a severity at any time. Many trains, ferries, and flights, even though events were cancelled, so people should avoid dangerous travel. It’s a time to sit safely at your home or any shelter during this high alert time, stay safe, and look out for each other. As the old saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” but right now, it might be best to stay indoors and keep an eye on weather updates.
Keep warm, keep safe, and if you can, stay off the roads until Floris passes through. After all, it’s better to miss a day or two than risk life and limb over some blustery weather.
