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Authorities in Scotland cancelled trains, closed parks and warned people to tie down backyard trampolines on Monday as a rare summer storm brought potentially destructive winds to northern Britain.
The UK’s Meteorological Office issued an “amber” wind warning in Scotland for Storm Floris, meaning there is a potential risk to lives and property, especially from large waves in coastal areas.
The agency said wind gusts could reach 137 km/h, accompanied by heavy rain.
The storm is hitting at the busiest time of year for tourism, with Scotland marking its summer bank holiday and hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the Edinburgh Fringe and other arts festivals.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the city’s biggest tourist draws, said it was cancelling Monday’s scheduled outdoor performance by massed ranks of bagpipers and drummers at Edinburgh Castle.
Train companies cancelled services across much of Scotland, and some ferry crossings were also scrapped.
Floris, named by weather authorities, could also hit parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, the Met Office said.
Scottish government minister Angela Constance urged people to be careful if travelling and “consider this a winter journey as opposed to a summer journey.”
“Please make sure you’ve got warm clothes, food, water, plenty of fuel and that your mobile phone is charged up,” she advised.
Train operator ScotRail urged “anyone with garden equipment, such as tents, trampolines or furniture, to secure items so that they don’t blow onto the tracks and interfere with lineside equipment.”
Meanwhile, a lower yellow alert is in place across northern England, north Wales and Northern Ireland between 7 am and 1 am CEST the following day.
Floris is the sixth named storm to hit the UK in the 2024/25 season and is the first since January.
Additional sources • AP
