Storm Floris Brings Record-Breaking Winds and Disruption to Northern Ireland and Beyond

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Northern Ireland recorded its strongest August winds in over three decades as Storm Floris swept through the United Kingdom on 4 August 2025, triggering widespread disruption, structural damage, and power outages. The storm reached bomb cyclone status after a rapid drop in central pressure, classifying it as a severe weather event under the criteria for explosive cyclogenesis.

Wind gusts peaked at 106 kilometres per hour (km/h), or 66 miles per hour (mph), at Orlock Head on the northern coast of County Down, matching the region’s previous August record set in 1989. Elsewhere, the Moray Firth experienced gusts up to 129 km/h (80 mph), while Aberdeen Airport saw provisional peaks of 132 km/h (82 mph), potentially setting a new national wind record for Scotland in August. The United Kingdom’s Met Office confirmed the data and noted the rare intensity of the storm for this time of year.

Ten flights were cancelled at Belfast City Airport due to the hazardous conditions, ranking it as the second most affected airport after Aberdeen. Amber and Yellow weather alerts remained in place across much of the British Isles, including severe flood warnings for northern Scotland’s River Strath Oykel and the Churchill Barriers in the Orkney Islands—key coastal causeways susceptible to storm surges.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm in the 2024–25 European windstorm season, which spans from September 2024 through August 2025. The storm’s classification as a bomb cyclone stems from a 24 hectopascal (hPa) drop in central pressure within 24 hours, a threshold that marks rapid and dangerous storm development. In meteorological terms, such a drop indicates a sudden strengthening of the low-pressure system, typically accompanied by fierce winds and sharp changes in weather.

The impact on infrastructure was widespread. Strong winds felled trees, downed fences, and tore through power lines across multiple regions. In Scotland, nearly 9,000 homes had power restored by early evening, but according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), over 43,000 customers remained without electricity by 17:58 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as weather conditions remain volatile. Travel disruption, especially in affected airport hubs and coastal areas, is expected to persist until the storm weakens. Meanwhile, emergency services and utility crews are working to clear debris and restore services across impacted communities. The long-term effects on regional infrastructure, particularly in coastal zones, will likely be assessed in the coming days.