Storm Amy to Bring Strong Winds across Cumbria Friday and Saturday with Yellow Weather Warning Issued

Storm Amy To bring Strong Winds across Cumbria Friday Saturday with Yellow Weather Warning issued

Storm Amy is currently developing in the Atlantic and will bring disruptive wet and windy weather for much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England and northwest Wales from Friday afternoon and throughout Saturday until 6pm.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree, said; “Although there is still some uncertainty about the exact track Storm Amy will take, the system will bring gale force winds across northern and western regions, with gusts widely reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour inland in northern Britain, and potentially reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour in places. With even stronger gusts on exposed coasts and hills, mainly in the northwest”.

“Heavy rainfall is also expected, in particular over western Scotland, where totals could exceed 30-50 mm in 6-9 hours, increasing the risk of localised flooding. Forecasts and warnings will be updated as the situation becomes more clear, therefore it is important to keep an eye forecast for your area over the coming days.”

Met Office warnings highlight the possibility for disruption to transport, power supplies, and outdoor activities, especially from Friday evening into Saturday.

North of the Border an amber alert has now been issued for large parts of Scotland, which will bring heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph.

Westmorland and Furness Council has said the council's highways teams are preparing for potential wind-blown trees and other debris which may affect roads across the district.

SP Electricity North West is ramping up its preparations for Storm Amy and will have extra teams on standby from overhead lines teams to contact centre agents.

Alan Astall, head of network control at SP Electricity North West, said: “Our preparation plans are well-rehearsed and we’re ready to respond if needed this weekend. We know strong winds can be disruptive by blowing debris into overhead lines despite our work year round to cut trees away from lines.

“Our main priority is safety so if you do notice any damage to the network, for example damaged overhead lines or electricity poles, contact us immediately by calling 105.

“If you or someone you know could be adversely affected by a power cut, you can join our free Extra Care register for additional help and support.

“We monitor the forecast daily and actively manage the power network 24/7, 365 days a year,” added Alan.

“When bad weather is forecast, we scale up our preparations so we can respond quickly. We prepare throughout the year, from cutting trees to installing new technology which helps identify network issues and restore power faster to reduce the impact on customers."

SP Electricity North West offers extra support for those who need it through its Extra Care register. For more information and to register go to www.enwl.co.uk/ExtraCare

Penrith.Town will bring you live updates on travel and local impacts as Storm Amy blows into the area from Friday afternoon.