Footage capturing the aftermath of a massive storm battering the UK shows fires, floods, and significant damage. The Met Office revealed that Storm Ashley hit England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland on Sunday morning, causing widespread havoc throughout the day.
Cork city centre experienced severe effects, with a fire breaking out. Cork City Fire Brigade tweeted about their response to several minor incidents, including downed electrical cables and a fallen tree near the Mardyke. The tweet featured a video showing flames on the ground beside an overturned tree.
Paul O’Brien shared footage of coastal flooding and powerful winds in Salthill during high tide, describing it as “the Atlantic at its wildest.” Sryan Bruen posted a video of rough seas with an Irish Ferries cruiser in the distance, noting, “Irish Ferries and Stena Line passing by Poolbeg Lighthouse at high tide.”
A violently wild but stunningly beautiful day on Achill Island during Storm Ashley – 20.10.24#stormashley #achillisland #mayo #ireland pic.twitter.com/REouRjrjCR
— Paul Stenson (@PaulVStenson) October 20, 2024
Luke Chambers posted a video on social media, documenting a turbulent landing in the UK. He commented, “Another bumpy one this afternoon feeling every bit of Storm Ashley on the Air Tanker landing into Manchester Airport.”
Weather maps illustrate the fierce intensity of Storm Ashley, with torrential rain and winds reaching up to 80mph. The storm has impacted England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, prompting the Met Office to issue a “danger to life” warning due to the extreme conditions.
Numerous flood warnings have been issued, and some roads have been closed. Early this morning, a yellow weather warning covered much of the UK, cautioning against building damage, power cuts, injuries, and life-threatening high-speed winds.
As the storm’s centre moves north and west, the UK will face winds up to 80mph in Scotland and 65mph in Wales, with similar speeds in northwest England. Winds are expected to intensify throughout the day before subsiding on Monday.
Tens of thousands of homes remained without power on Sunday night as the storm swept across Ireland. Hazardous conditions led to the cancellation of dozens of flights at Dublin and Belfast airports.
The centre of #StormAshley continues to move across northern Scotland
Highest wind gust so far today: 82mph at Aberdaron
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/BKzJBZLQYW
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 20, 2024
Tony Wisson, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, stated, “Storm Ashley will bring strong winds for most of the UK on Sunday before clearing on Monday. Disruption is possible in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northwest England, and West Wales.
“Especially strong winds are expected on Sunday afternoon and evening in western Scotland, with gusts potentially reaching 70-80mph in exposed areas, prompting an Amber warning. Inland areas in Northern Ireland and western Scotland could see 50-60mph winds, with 60-70mph along exposed coasts and hills.
“These strong winds, combined with high spring tides, may cause some disruption.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Guardian reports Storm Ashley to bring 80mph winds to parts of the UK this weekend, with amber and yellow weather warnings issued for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and north-west England and Wales.(read more)
- Breaking News.ie reports that Storm Ashley has left thousands without power due to 130km/h gusts, with restoration efforts ongoing in counties like Galway, Mayo, and Clare.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What areas were affected by Storm Ashley?
Storm Ashley hit England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
What kind of damage did Storm Ashley cause?
The storm caused fires, floods, downed electrical cables, fallen trees, and power outages.
How strong were the winds during Storm Ashley?
Winds reached up to 80mph in Scotland and 65mph in Wales and northwest England.
Were any flights affected by Storm Ashley?
Yes, dozens of flights were canceled at Dublin and Belfast airports due to hazardous conditions.
What warnings did the Met Office issue for Storm Ashley?
The Met Office issued a ‘danger to life’ warning and an Amber warning for strong winds.