Storm Ashley to batter Ayrshire as Met Office issue wind warnings for Sunday

Forecasters say Ayrshire is in line for a stormy day on Sunday.

Ayrshire is bracing for the arrival of Storm Ashley tomorrow.

Winds of up to 70mph are predicted to batter the coast with the arrival of the first major storm of the season.

People across the south west have been warned to brace for the impact, with a Yellow weather warning in place for tomorrow (Sunday).

Named by the Irish met service Met Éireann, the storm is set to bring strong winds and rain to Scotland, Ireland, the northwest of England, and Wales. The Met Office has warned that the "deep area of low pressure" could bring widespread disruption on Sunday and early Monday.

According to the weather service, "especially strong winds" are forecast in Scotland on Sunday afternoon and evening in the west of Scotland when Ashley makes landfall. It is expected that wind speeds could reach up to 80 miles per hour in the most exposed areas.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Tony Wisson, said: "Storm Ashley will bring strong winds for most of the UK on Sunday before it clears on Monday, with a chance of some disruption across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northwest England and West Wales.

"A period of especially strong winds are expected on Sunday afternoon and evening in western Scotland, where gusts could potentially reach 70-80mph in exposed areas. More generally 50-60 mph are possible in some inland areas in other parts of the warning area, especially Northern Ireland and western Scotland, and perhaps up to 60-70 mph along exposed coasts and hills.

"These strong winds in conjunction with high spring tides, may cause some disruption. It is important that people stay up to date with the latest forecast and our warnings."

Head of Transport Resilience at Transport Scotland, Ashleigh Robson, added: "Storm Ashley is set to bring widespread disruption for travel on Sunday and into Monday. Passengers should certainly check with their operator, and with some families off enjoying the October school holidays, we would advise them to play close attention to any cross-border travel updates too.

"The Multi Agency Response Team will be in position to take decisions, oversee the network, and advise the public and update Ministers over the weekend as the storm sweeps into parts of Scotland.

"The strong winds may cause particular difficulties for HGVs and we would urge drivers to take note of the conditions, debris on the roads and trees falling onto some roads is a strong possibility. The forecasted rain will make visibility difficult when driving and could result in some localised flooding.

"Disruption on ferry services is very likely, rail services and flights may also be impacted. Please check with you transport operator for the latest information.

"The decision to cancel services is never taken lightly, but safety of passengers has to be the priority. Please plan ahead. The latest information on the trunk road network is always available at www.traffic.gov.scot."

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