UK summer storm sows travel chaos
Meteorologists warned that gusts could reach a record-breaking 145 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) as Storm Floris made landfall overnight.
The second-most serious amber wind warning was in place across swathes of Scotland as officials sought to minimize damage.
'Storm Floris is an unusually strong storm for the time of year,' the UK's Meteorological Office said in a statement.
The Met Office said it was only the third time an amber wind warning had been issued in August since the system launched in 2011, adding some gusts in Scotland were 'likely' to beat records.
Scientists say human-induced climate change is driving more intense and frequent extreme weather events around the globe, as the planet continues to warm.
Several train operators in northern England and Scotland canceled services, warning passengers not to make their journeys.
A tree was removed after it fell onto overhead railway wires in Glasgow, causing a fire, according to Network Rail Scotland. Multiple trees were also blown over in the northeastern Scottish region of Aberdeenshire, blocking roads.
In Scotland's capital, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo marching parade was canceled and Edinburgh Zoo said it would be closed for the day.
Storm Floris is the second named storm to hit the UK this year, and the sixth one this storm season, which will run from early September 2024 to late August 2025.
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Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
UK summer storm sows travel chaos
LONDON: High-speed winds disrupted trains and blew over trees in Scotland and northern England where residents were advised against traveling as an 'unusually' fierce summer storm hit the UK on Monday. Meteorologists warned that gusts could reach a record-breaking 145 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) as Storm Floris made landfall overnight. The second-most serious amber wind warning was in place across swathes of Scotland as officials sought to minimize damage. 'Storm Floris is an unusually strong storm for the time of year,' the UK's Meteorological Office said in a statement. The Met Office said it was only the third time an amber wind warning had been issued in August since the system launched in 2011, adding some gusts in Scotland were 'likely' to beat records. Scientists say human-induced climate change is driving more intense and frequent extreme weather events around the globe, as the planet continues to warm. Several train operators in northern England and Scotland canceled services, warning passengers not to make their journeys. A tree was removed after it fell onto overhead railway wires in Glasgow, causing a fire, according to Network Rail Scotland. Multiple trees were also blown over in the northeastern Scottish region of Aberdeenshire, blocking roads. In Scotland's capital, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo marching parade was canceled and Edinburgh Zoo said it would be closed for the day. Storm Floris is the second named storm to hit the UK this year, and the sixth one this storm season, which will run from early September 2024 to late August 2025.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Al Arabiya
No evidence of malign activity in UK travel disruption, says minister
A technical problem that affected over a hundred flights across UK airports on Wednesday was an isolated event with no evidence of malign activity, transport minister Heidi Alexander said, as airlines worked to clear the backlog on Thursday. National Air Traffic Services (NATS) restored its systems, with capacity returning to normal, late on Wednesday after switching to a back-up system following what it described as a radar-related failure. The second outage in recent years at NATS, which provides air traffic control services for planes in UK airspace and the eastern part of the North Atlantic, affected Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London, Edinburgh Airport, and other locations. On Thursday, NATS repeated its apology to those affected, and added that there was no evidence that the incident was cyber-related. 'I know that any disruption is frustrating for passengers. Flights are now resumed ... I will continue to receive regular updates,' Alexander wrote on social media platform X, following a meeting with NATS Chief Executive Martin Rolfe over the incident. Earlier on Thursday, Alexander said NATS was working closely with airlines and airports to clear the backlog. A total of 122 flights were cancelled as of 1830 GMT on Wednesday, with a further 23 cancelled as of 0730 GMT on Thursday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. At least 16 flights, including departures to Brussels and Toronto and arrivals from New York and Berlin, had been cancelled at Heathrow Airport, according to its website. The airport, Britain's largest and Europe's busiest, was hit by a fire at a power sub-station in March which stranded thousands of passengers. Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon called on NATS' Rolfe to resign, saying no lessons had been learnt since the August 2023 disruption caused by a malfunctioning in the automatic processing of flight plans.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Al Arabiya
London's Heathrow hit by more flight cancellations after air traffic failure
At least 16 flights to and from London's Heathrow Airport were cancelled on Thursday, a day after technical problems with Britain's air traffic control system caused widespread disruption across the country's airports. National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which provides air traffic control services for planes flying in UK airspace and the eastern part of the North Atlantic, said on Wednesday its systems were fully operational with capacity returning to normal after it switched to a back-up system. The second outage in as many years at NATS also affected Gatwick Airport near London, Edinburgh Airport in Scotland and other locations, resulting in 122 cancellations as of 1830 GMT on Wednesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Heathrow's website showed that at least 16 flights, including departures to Brussels and Toronto and arrivals from New York and Berlin, had been cancelled on Thursday. Heathrow, Britain's largest and Europe's busiest airport, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the latest cancellations. Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon called on NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to resign, saying no lessons had been learnt since the August 2023 disruption caused by a malfunctioning in the automatic processing of flight plans. NATS, which on Wednesday apologized to those affected by the failure, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a response to McMahon's comments. Heathrow was also hit by a fire at a power sub-station in March which stranded thousands of passengers.
