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Storm Ashley forecast sparks revised amber weather warning from Met Office for parts of the Highlands





Storm Ashley is expected to batter the Highlands with 80mph winds when it hits this weekend, the Met Office has said after upgrading its weather warning to amber.

Yellow warnings for high winds had already been issued for Sunday and Monday ahead of the arrival of Storm Ashley, which was named by the Irish Met Office earlier this morning after it issued its own revised amber alert.

And with forecasts for Scotland also now predicting higher wind speeds, the UK Met Office has done likewise and upgraded its warning to amber.

Amber and yellow warnings will be in force on Sunday. The yellow warning will continue into Monday morning across northern Scotland only.
Amber and yellow warnings will be in force on Sunday. The yellow warning will continue into Monday morning across northern Scotland only.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Storm Ashley will bring a period of strong winds to much of the west of Scotland on Sunday and into Monday, with strongest winds expected within the amber warning area.

“Parts of western Scotland are likely to see gusts of 70-80 mph at times on Sunday afternoon, before winds ease through the evening and overnight. The winds coincide with high spring tides and large waves which may lead to a greater risk of disruption along coasts.”

The new amber alert covers north-west Sutherland, Wester Ross, Lochaber, much of western Argyll and as far south as Tarbert and Knapdale. All of the Inner and Outer Hebrides are also covered by the alert.

The amber warning will be in force from 9am on Sunday until midnight that night.

An existing yellow wind alert covering the whole of Scotland will also be in force from 3am on Sunday until midnight that night.

The alert continues into Monday across a revised area of Scotland that takes in the north of the country only, with the alert extending across all of Scotland’s mainland and islands northwards of Ardnamurchan in the west and Stonehaven in the east. This warning will be in place until 9am on Monday morning.

Gusts in the yellow area are expected to be up to 50-60mph widely and between 60mph and 70mph in western areas.

The upgraded warnings were issued as parts of the western Highlands and islands were already subject to an unrelated wind warning on Friday. Wind gusts of up to 60mph were being predicted, and ferry sailings were cancelled.


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