Britain is bracing for a spell of turbulent weather as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind, covering most parts of England and Wales from Sunday evening, September 14, 2025, into Monday, September 15, 2025. Forecasters warn that strong winds and thunderstorms are expected to sweep across the country, with the potential to cause significant disruption to daily life and travel.
According to the Met Office, the warning—set to run from 8:00 pm on Sunday until 6:00 pm on Monday—has been expanded to include most of the UK, stretching from the south coast of England to near Newcastle. Gusts could reach up to 80 mph in the most exposed locations, particularly along coastal routes and sea fronts, with most areas experiencing winds between 45 mph and 55 mph. In Greater Manchester, for example, wind speeds are forecast to peak at around 36 mph on Sunday evening and rise to 48 mph by midday Monday, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The southwest is expected to be hit especially hard, with Devon and Cornwall bracing for gusts of up to 70 mph. BBC South West meteorologist David Braine noted that the biggest gusts are likely for the north Cornish coast and up to Ilfracombe in Devon between midnight on Sunday and early Monday morning. "Big waves which could be quite dangerous on the coasts" are anticipated, Braine told BBC South West. The Met Office also cautioned that large waves could impact coastal communities, and those venturing near the shore should exercise extreme caution.
Transport is expected to bear the brunt of the disruption, with delays and potential closures affecting road, rail, air, and ferry services. The Met Office stated, "There is a chance that some roads and bridges may close." Power cuts are also possible, which could affect other services such as mobile phone coverage. The RAC breakdown service warned that "drivers are really going to feel the effects of the early autumnal weather this weekend," especially later on Sunday and into the new working week. Rod Dennis, a spokesman for the RAC, advised, "Strong gusty winds will make driving conditions challenging across a large swathe of southern and western Britain. The wind will be particularly noticeable on more exposed roads, like those over the moors in Devon and Cornwall, so drivers may like to delay their journeys or seek other routes. We urge anyone setting out to reduce their speeds while driving and pass high-sided vehicles with particular care."
For those planning to travel, the Met Office recommends checking road conditions and public transport timetables before setting off, and amending travel plans if necessary. "Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary," a Met Office spokesperson advised. The forecaster also recommended preparing for potential power cuts by gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack, and other essentials in advance.
Weather conditions over the weekend are expected to be dynamic. Saturday, September 13, 2025, will see sunny spells and scattered showers—some blustery and thundery—moving across the UK before the arrival of the west and south-westerly winds. Heavy downpours and isolated thunderstorms are also predicted for Saturday, adding to the sense of unease. The winds are forecast to start easing from the west on Monday afternoon, and Tuesday should bring a lull in the disruptive weather. However, forecasters are keeping a close eye on another developing system that could bring severe gales to exposed coastal locations on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, though with less impact than the current weather front.
While the current stormy conditions have not yet been officially named, the public has already dubbed it "Amy," as this would be the first storm name used for the 2025/2026 season. However, Met Office spokesman Graham Madge clarified, "There is no intention to name it, as of now. Obviously we are in meteorological autumn now, it’s the sort of weather that we do expect at this time of year. So it’s nothing unusual, particularly—perhaps it’s just the contrast with the weather that we have enjoyed over most of the summer."
The severe weather has already led to the cancellation and rescheduling of several events. Organisers of the new Looe Food Festival in Cornwall were "devastated" after deciding to cancel Sunday's event due to the predicted winds, which they deemed "just too strong," according to BBC South West. The Senior Surf Life Saving championships were also moved from Crantock to Portreath because of the forecast. Tom Bolt from Falmouth Coastguard advised those tempted to storm-watch that "it's always best just to watch from a distance." Mariners are urged to ensure their boats are "safe and secure" in their moorings, check their VHF radios, and wear life jackets if going to their boat by dinghy.
Motorists are facing additional hazards, not just from the wind but also from the risk of fines due to improper use of fog lights. As visibility may be severely impaired by heavy rainfall, drivers are reminded to use fog lights only when visibility drops below 100 meters. Kazimieras Urbonas, motoring specialist at Ovoko, explained, "Police can fine you £50 for using fog lights incorrectly under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. Fog lights are incredibly bright and can blind oncoming drivers or mask your brake lights. With stopping distances doubling in wet weather, that split-second confusion could cause a serious accident." Under the Highway Code, fog lights must be deactivated once visibility clears, even if rain continues, and never used in light drizzle, mist, or clear conditions.
As the country prepares for the onslaught, the Met Office is urging the public to "be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly" and to stay up to date with the latest forecasts. Those living near the coast are advised to stay well back from large waves, as even from the shore, breaking waves can sweep people off their feet and out to sea. In an emergency, the Coastguard should be contacted by calling 999.
With the first deep area of low pressure of the autumn arriving, the message from authorities is clear: take the warnings seriously, plan ahead, and stay safe. The coming days promise to be a test of Britain’s resilience against the unpredictable power of early autumn weather.
