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PA Media
Weather warnings have been upgraded to amber for most of Scotland as Storm Floris bears down on the UK.
The warning lasts from 10:00 BST on Monday through to 22:00 and warns of danger to life as damage to buildings and trees due to storm conditions is expected.
There is also a yellow warning across northern England and Northern Ireland from 06:00 BST on Monday through to midnight.
Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season.
The storm is expected to bring "unusually strong" west or north-westerly winds to much of Scotland, the Met Office says. Gusts could reach 80 to 90mph on some exposed coasts, hills and bridges.
Trees are in full leaf at this time of year and are more likely to be toppled with branches broken off than during winter when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded.
Power disruption is also possible while heavy rain and flooding could be an additional hazard.
Named storms in August are not that rare.
Last year, Storm Lilian struck the UK on 23 August just before the bank holiday weekend, closing stages at the Leeds Festival and cancelling Heathrow flights.
In 2023, Storm Antoni brought wet and very windy weather to south Wales and south-west England affecting events such as Brighton and Plymouth Pride. Less than two weeks later Storm Betty brought further disruption.
In 2020 there were also two August storms - Ellen and Francis - that the Met Office describes as "two of the most notable August storms in the last 50 years."
These two storms brought wind gusts of 79mph and 81mph respectively with transport disruption, coastal flooding and power cuts.
The storm follows the UK's fifth warmest July on record, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
All four UK nations recorded one of their 10 warmest Julys, and July was the sixth consecutive month of above-average mean temperatures for the UK, the Met Office said.
The first day of the month brought the highest temperature of the year so far, with 35.8C in Faversham, Kent.
