As Storm Floris descends upon the UK, experts warn that the impact of summer storms can actually be more destructive in some ways than those in the winter season (which runs from October to March).
Although named storms are more commonly associated with the colder months of autumn and winter are typically more ferocious than those in the summer as the wind speeds are usually higher, summer storms do occur and can be just as impactful, according to the Met Office.
This is largely for the practical reason that people are out and about a lot more in the summer – whether on holiday, at festivals or sports events.
As such, any given bout of wind or rain is going to cause a lot more problems in the summer than it would in the winter when people are more likely to stay indoors and watch TV than climb into a canoe or go camping.
Trees in full leaf
“From an impact perspective, a summer storm can have more impacts than a winter one,” Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, told The i Paper.
“High winds, for instance, pose greater risks in summer due to the presence of temporary structures like festival tents, more people camping or travelling, and trees in full leaf, with the possibility of fallen branches and leaves blocking drains.”
Professor Suzanne Gray, of Reading University, told The i Paper in very dry years summer storms may pose a greater risk of “flash flooding” than winter storms as water is unable to soak into the ground.
“When heavy rain falls on the very dry soils we have after an extended period of dry weather, then it is likely to run off enhancing the likelihood of flash flooding. However, river levels are typically lower at this time of year, reducing the chances of flood risk. With Floris the weather warnings are for wind rather than rain, although heavy rain is also expected,” Professor Gray said.
She adds that rainfall can sometimes be higher in summer storms “as warmer air can hold more water” – about 7 per cent more for each degree Celsius.
Lightning
The warm, moisture-heavy air is also the reason why summer storms are more likely to contain lightning than winter storms, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in the US.
As the warm, humid air rises, the “cumulonimbus” clouds grow ever bigger, reaching farther upward until the moisture droplets in the colder, higher, air turn to particles of ice that bounce off each other, creating electrical charges that eventually discharge as bolts of lightning.
These then heat and expand the surrounding air to produce thunder. Only about 10 percent of lightning flashes reach the ground; the rest are discharged from cloud to cloud, the NSSL says.
Adrian Simpson, head of policy at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), urged people not to underestimate the risks attached to Floris.
“We understand how tempting it can be to stick with summer plans—whether it’s a coastal walk, a camping trip, or a garden gathering—but Storm Floris presents real risks. With strong winds and heavy rain forecast, we’re urging everyone to take the yellow warning seriously.
“Simple steps like securing outdoor items, avoiding unnecessary travel, and checking on vulnerable neighbours can make a big difference in staying safe,” he said.
Wind surfers have been out on the water during Storm Floris as the Met Office warned of danger to life from large waves (Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty)The Met Office adapted an impact-based warning system in 2011 to reflect the fact that summer storms can have a disproportionate effect on people. This means that warnings are issued based on the potential impacts of the weather rather than specific weather “thresholds”.
This approach considers various factors, such as the time of day, time of year, and the region’s familiarity with the weather conditions, according to the Met Office.
For example, strong winds in winter may not warrant a warning, but the same winds in summer, when people are camping, could lead to a warning due to the higher risk of impact, the Met Office says.
Storm Floris is an unusually strong storm for the time of year, with only two amber wind warnings having previously been issued in August since the Met Office introduced its impact-based warnings in 2011.
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