Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, swept across the UK and Ireland on October 4, 2025, leaving a trail of disruption, danger, and inconvenience in its wake. With winds whipping up to 100mph in some regions and torrential rain battering the landscape, the storm has caused widespread power outages, travel chaos, and forced the closure of beloved public spaces. Communities from the Scottish Highlands to North Wales and Northern Ireland have been grappling with the storm’s relentless force, as authorities and engineers race to restore a sense of normalcy.
According to the BBC, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind covering the entire UK, while the north of Scotland faced an even sterner amber warning for “damaging” winds. Gusts reached 96mph in Scotland’s Hebrides and 92mph in Northern Ireland, putting lives and infrastructure at risk. The Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong warned, “Storm Amy will be an impactful autumn storm for many in Scotland and Northern Ireland, though impacts will also spread to north-west England and Wales, as well as a more widespread windy period for the rest of the UK.”
In the north of Scotland, the situation was particularly dire. Fraser Wilson of the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks told BBC Radio Scotland that 100mph winds had affected power across Scotland, and while some homes had their power restored, “Work will continue this morning to get 62,000 people reconnected. We expect because of the extent of damage to the network and conditions we are still going to be facing today that this will take some time, this storm is not over by any means.” The National Grid echoed this, stating, “Engineers will be working around the clock to restore supplies quickly if severe weather causes disruptions.”
Across North West England and North Wales, the story was much the same. High winds from Storm Amy knocked out power to numerous areas, with Scottish Power engineers working to restore electricity. However, the company admitted, “Restoration is taking longer than expected due to significant damage to the network caused by Storm Amy.” As of 11:30am on Saturday, outages were reported in a litany of postcodes across Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Chester. The impact was not limited to the UK; in Ireland, over 234,000 homes were left without power, especially in the west and north where the winds toppled trees and power lines, as reported by Travel News Updates.
The disruption wasn’t confined to electricity. Railways and airports were thrown into disarray, with major operators like Avanti West Coast and ScotRail warning of delays and cancellations, especially north of Preston. ScotRail’s Mark Ilderton explained, “We’re sorry to customers who have been impacted by the disruption caused by Storm Amy. Network Rail and ScotRail teams will work flat out to recover services as quickly as possible, but considerable disruption will continue through Saturday morning. We’re advising customers to check their journey before they travel via the ScotRail website, mobile app or social media feeds.”
On Saturday morning, ScotRail reported about 80 trees brought down onto lines, forcing the suspension of all services out of Glasgow Central until at least 2pm. Network Rail revealed that more than 170 separate incidents had been reported, with teams “working around the clock” to repair extensive damage. Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, described the situation: “Our teams are working tirelessly to assess the damage, inspect the railway, and carry out essential repairs. They’re often out in extremely challenging conditions, especially with Storm Amy still affecting parts of northern Scotland. Safety remains our top priority. We must ensure our teams can work safely on the ground and confirm that lines are secure before passenger services can run.”
Air travel was equally beset by trouble. Belfast International Airport and Glasgow Airport both advised travelers to check with airlines for the latest updates, as delays and cancellations loomed large. Comedian Jason Manford experienced the chaos firsthand; his British Airways flight to Belfast was diverted to Manchester due to extreme weather, forcing him to cancel a scheduled show. “Due to extreme weather conditions caused by Storm Amy, the British Airways plane that Jason Manford was flying on this afternoon could not land in Belfast and was re-routed to Manchester,” he wrote on social media.
On the roads, the storm’s impact was just as severe. The Severn Bridge, parts of the A19 Tees Viaduct, and the A66 in Cumbria were closed to high-sided vehicles, while other routes faced blockages from flooding and fallen trees. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued 30 flood warnings, and the Environment Agency in England put out six more for the north, raising concerns about the risk of sudden, dangerous flooding.
Even leisure and recreation were not spared. The Royal Parks in London—including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and St James Park—were closed for the day, a rare move prompted by “severe wind gusts.” In a statement on its website, the Royal Parks declared, “Due to severe wind gusts caused by Storm Amy, all of the royal parks, plus Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens will be closed on Saturday October 4. This closure includes all park roads and cycleways, cafes and kiosks, parks sports venues, the Serpentine lido and boating lake, and the royal parks shop.”
Storm Amy also made meteorological history, setting a new UK October record for the lowest central pressure, with a reading of 947.9 hectopascals at Baltasound, Shetland, surpassing the previous record of 950.9 hPa set in 1988. Meteorologists warned that such low pressure was a sign of the storm’s exceptional strength and potential for further damage.
Authorities and emergency services across the UK and Ireland urged the public to stay informed, avoid non-essential travel, and heed official advice. The Met Office’s Neil Armstrong emphasized the seriousness: “Within the amber warning areas, damaging gusts of around 100mph are possible for a time on Friday evening for parts of western Scotland, especially Skye, Tiree, Barra and western Lochaber. This could lead to significant disruption and brings the risk of power cuts and damage to buildings and trees.”
For those needing to venture out, travel experts and official agencies alike advised careful planning. Travelers were urged to check real-time updates from train operators, airports, and local authorities, to pack for wet and windy weather, and to prioritize indoor activities. “If you encounter flooded areas or fallen trees, turn back and find an alternative route. Your safety is the top priority,” advised Travel News Updates.
As Storm Amy continues to batter the region, the collective response—from engineers working through the night, to rail and air crews scrambling to restore order, to the public adapting plans—has been marked by resilience and caution. While the storm is expected to subside by Sunday, its impact will linger, a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power and the importance of preparedness in the face of extreme weather.
