Storm Malik: Amber wind warning issued with 80mph gusts set to hit Scotland
The weather front has been named by forecasters in Denmark
Last updated 28th Jan 2022
High winds of up to 80mph are forecast to batter parts of the country this weekend, as the Met Office issues an amber weather warning for the arrival of Storm Malik.
The whole of Scotland is covered by a yellow alert for wind, with the most severe gales expected along the east coast.
That's the same stretch which was badly hit by Storm Arwen almost exactly two months ago.
People are also being warned to expect rain and more wintry showers on higher ground, with the warnings in place between 4am on Saturday and noon on Monday.
Disruption to transport and power
The weather front, which was named by experts in Denmark, is expected to cause widespread travel disruption as well as power cuts.
Many homes spent days cut off from supplies following Storm Arwen.
Paul Gunderson, chief meteorologist for the Met Office, said: "The impacts of Storm Malik are going to be the greatest in Denmark on Sunday, but the track of the storm in the preceding hours means that the UK will be dealt a glancing blow as Malik moves eastwards on Saturday.
"For those in the north of the UK there will be high winds and rain on Saturday, with showers possibly turning wintry in the high ground of the north.
"The highest winds are expected in exposed coastal areas in the north and east of Scotland, but it will be a windy day for most."
Lessons from Storm Arwen
It comes just a day after a review of the response to Storm Arwen, which hit in November, made 15 recommendations to the Scottish Government and its partner agencies.
It suggested rehearsing and practicing door-knocking in areas affected by power outages in future to ensure the welfare of affected people.
More than 200,000 homes were left without power following the high winds back then, with outages lasting for 10 days in some areas.
The storm also caused one death in Scotland when a falling tree crushed a driver in Aberdeenshire.
Disruption warnings
Transport, energy and environmental bosses have also issued warnings for people to take care if they are out and about this weekend.
Liam Sumpter, Network Rail route director for Scotland, said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues is our first consideration during severe weather.
"We are monitoring the conditions very closely and have teams in place across the country ready to react quickly to any damage caused by the weather.”
While Trefor Owen, Forestry and Land Scotland Director of Land Management, said; “Everyone has seen the impact of Storm Arwen and is aware of how much damage strong winds can do.
“Storm Malik is not expected to be quite as strong but with many trees in our east coast forests already made unstable after the previous storm, the risk of more storm damage to trees is high.
"There could also be damage to forests that escaped the worst of Storm Arwen’s impact.
“Members of the public have been very cooperative in staying out of previously affected forests.
“We would now ask that for the duration of the storm warning tomorrow, people avoid visiting any of our east coast forests in the interests of their own safety.”
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