Storm Bram is lashing the UK and Ireland today, Tuesday 9 December 2025, bringing gusts close to 90mph, torrential rain and official “danger to life” warnings from forecasters. [1]
Amber alerts for wind and rain are in force for parts of north‑west Scotland, south‑west England and south Wales, with widespread yellow warnings covering much of the rest of the country. [2] Across the Irish Sea, Met Éireann has issued national wind and rain warnings and upgraded marine alerts as Bram tracks close to the island, raising the risk of coastal flooding. [3]
Flood warnings, power‑cut risks and major disruption to road and rail travel are already being reported, while high‑profile events such as Belfast’s Christmas Market have been forced to shut and rail operators in Wales and the South West are running reduced services. [4]
Storm Bram: A Deep Atlantic Low and the Second Big Storm of the Season
Bram is the second named storm of the 2025–26 European windstorm season. It was named by Ireland’s Met Éireann on 8 December, and the same system is known as “Helmut” in German weather records. [5]
Meteorologists describe Bram as a rapidly deepening Atlantic low‑pressure system tracking close to Ireland before swinging across Scotland and northern Britain. Southerly winds have strengthened ahead of the system and are veering south‑westerly to westerly as the storm moves through, dragging bands of heavy rain over areas that are already soaked after a week of persistent downpours. [6]
That pre‑existing saturation is a key concern: rivers in parts of Ireland and the UK are close to or at bank‑full, meaning additional rainfall is more likely to translate quickly into surface and river flooding. [7]
UK Weather Warnings: Amber Alerts for Rain and Wind
Amber rain: South West England and South Wales
The Met Office has issued amber rain warnings for parts of south‑west England (including Cornwall and Devon) and south Wales from midnight until 10am on Tuesday. [8]
Forecasts indicate:
- 50–75mm of rain across much of the warning area
- Up to 100mm on higher ground, especially Dartmoor and upland parts of Wales [9]
On already saturated ground, this volume of rain is expected to trigger:
- Flooding of homes and businesses
- Fast‑flowing or deep floodwater that can pose a danger to life
- Road closures and difficult driving conditions
- A risk that some communities could be temporarily cut off by floodwater
- Power cuts and disruption to essential services [10]
The Met Office is explicitly advising people in amber areas to avoid non‑essential road travel on Tuesday morning and to prepare flood kits with key documents, medicines, torches, warm clothing, food and water. [11]
Amber wind: North‑west Scotland braced for 90mph gusts
Further north, an amber wind warning covers parts of the Highlands and Eilean Siar, as well as areas of Strathclyde, from 4pm to midnight on Tuesday. [12]
In this zone, forecasters expect:
- Widespread gusts of 70–80mph
- Isolated gusts up to around 90mph in exposed coastal and upland locations [13]
These winds are strong enough to bring down trees, damage buildings, and generate flying debris, again posing a potential danger to life and raising the prospect of bridge closures and transport disruption. [14]
Widespread yellow warnings
Beyond the amber zones, multiple yellow warnings for both rain and wind stretch across:
- Much of Wales and south‑west England
- Northern Ireland
- Northern England and southern Scotland
- Further yellow rain warnings for parts of northern England and Yorkshire on Tuesday [15]
Yellow alerts signal a lower, but still significant, likelihood of: localised flooding, difficult driving conditions, and delays on roads, railways and ferry routes.
Ireland: Status Orange Winds and Red Marine Warnings
Ireland is also taking a battering from Storm Bram. Met Éireann has issued:
- A Status Yellow wind warning for the entire country on Tuesday
- Additional Status Yellow rain warnings for southern counties
- Status Orange wind warnings for multiple western and southern coastal counties
- Red marine warnings between Loop Head and Malin Head, later extended south to Mizen Head, where winds over the sea may briefly reach violent storm force 11. [16]
Forecasters warn that heavy rain falling onto already water‑logged ground will drive surface and river flooding, especially in counties such as Cork, south Kerry, south Tipperary and Waterford. High astronomical tides combined with strong onshore winds could significantly increase flood risk in low‑lying coastal areas. [17]
Met Éireann is urging people to:
- Allow extra time for journeys and expect difficult conditions on exposed routes
- Stay away from piers, harbour walls and promenades during high tide
- Keep back from swollen rivers and flooded areas and never attempt to drive or walk through floodwater [18]
In Northern Ireland, the UK Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning covering the whole region from 9am to 9pm on Tuesday, with gusts of 50–60mph widely and higher values on exposed headlands. [19]
Belfast’s popular Christmas Market at City Hall is closed for at least one day because of the storm, with organisers hoping to reopen on Wednesday 10 December if conditions allow. [20]
Flood Warnings: England, Wales and Coastal Communities on Alert
As Storm Bram moves in, England and Wales are under a patchwork of flood warnings and alerts.
Recent updates from broadcasters and weather services report more than 30 flood warnings—where flooding is expected—and around 170 flood alerts, signalling areas where flooding is possible, across England. [21]
In Wales, Natural Resources Wales has warned of:
- Significant flood risk in parts of south Wales, especially under the amber rain warning
- Potentially “very large waves” on stretches of coast such as Gwynedd and Ceredigion, where high tides and strong winds could combine. [22]
Local examples illustrate the growing impacts:
- In Pembrokeshire, flood warnings have been issued for the River Ritec at Tenby and for Dale, with coastal flood alerts also in place. [23]
- Debris and waves have already caused issues on roads at Amroth and Wisemans Bridge, requiring council clean‑up operations. [24]
In south‑west England and Wales more broadly, the combination of intense rainfall, saturated catchments and onshore winds means rivers and drainage systems may struggle to cope, increasing the risk of rapid‑onset flooding in vulnerable areas. [25]
Rail, Road and Air Travel: “Check Before You Travel”
Rail disruption
Rail operators and infrastructure managers have issued multiple warnings ahead of Storm Bram’s peak.
- Transport for Wales services are being hit by flooding between Pontypridd and Tonypandy, where all lines are currently closed and replacement road transport is in place. Disruption on this route is expected until at least 9am on Tuesday. [26]
- Great Western Railway (GWR) is warning customers that flooding and fallen trees are likely to “significantly affect” services across parts of the South West. The operator is running a reduced timetable and allowing tickets for Tuesday to be used on Wednesday 10 December instead. [27]
- Network Rail has advised passengers in Scotland to plan ahead and check their journeys, given the risk of very strong winds under the amber warning. [28]
Passengers are being urged to:
- Check real‑time journey planners before leaving home
- Allow additional time in case of delays or rail‑replacement buses
- Be prepared for last‑minute cancellations if tracks flood or trees fall onto lines [29]
Roads and bridges
In Scotland, Traffic Scotland has created a dedicated Storm Bram travel advice page and is warning of a high risk of disruption under amber and yellow wind and rain warnings. [30]
Live incident lists already show:
- Amber and yellow wind incidents across the Highlands, Western Isles, Strathclyde, Grampian and Central, Tayside & Fife from midday onwards
- Queues, hazards and accidents on key routes including sections of the M8, M74, M77, M80, M90 and A720 during the Tuesday morning peak [31]
High winds could also lead to restrictions on bridges and elevated routes, especially in western and northern Scotland, with police and transport officials asking drivers to avoid unnecessary travel in the worst‑affected periods. [32]
Ferries and flights
Forecast 50–70mph gusts more widely, and 90mph in northwest Scotland, are expected to ripple through ferry timetables and may cause crosswind‑related delays or diversions at exposed airports. [33] Operators are advising passengers to keep a close eye on service updates throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.
How Bad Could It Get – and What Comes Next?
Climatologists note that Bram is part of an active Atlantic pattern this winter, following earlier named storms such as Amy and Claudia. [34] While Bram’s precise impacts depend on its final track, several common threads emerge from official forecasts:
- Wind: Inland gusts of 50–60mph are possible across many western and northern areas, with stronger gusts on coasts and hills. In northwest Scotland, gusts near 90mph are on the cards under the amber wind warning. [35]
- Rain: Amber warning zones in south Wales and south‑west England could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, with totals locally approaching 100mm. [36]
- Flooding: Fast‑responding catchments and urban areas are most at risk of surface water flooding, while larger rivers may respond more slowly, keeping flood risks elevated into Wednesday. [37]
The Met Office’s latest five‑day outlook suggests:
- Tonight (Mon night into Tue): Heavy rain and strong to gale‑force winds moving north‑east from south‑west England, bringing flooding and travel disruption but also noticeably mild air.
- Tuesday: Very wet and windy in the north, especially western Scotland; elsewhere rain clears east to sunshine and showers in a blustery, very mild airmass.
- Wednesday–Friday: Another spell of heavy rain and strong winds mid‑week, particularly across western Scotland, a brief quieter window on Thursday, then further wet and windy weather by Friday. [38]
In Ireland, forecasters expect winds and coastal flooding risk to peak on Tuesday before easing later on Wednesday, though rivers may remain high for some time afterwards. [39]
Safety Advice: How to Stay Safe During Storm Bram
Authorities across the UK and Ireland are stressing a few key safety messages as Bram moves through. Drawing on guidance from the Met Office, Met Éireann, Traffic Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and emergency services, the core advice includes: [40]
1. Avoid floodwater
- Never drive, walk or cycle through floodwater – even shallow, fast‑moving water can knock you off your feet, and 30cm can move a car.
- Turn around and find an alternative route if roads are flooded.
2. Travel only if necessary in the worst‑hit areas
- In amber warning zones, consider postponing non‑essential journeys, especially during the Tuesday morning rush hour and Tuesday evening in northwest Scotland.
- If you must travel, check rail, road and ferry updates before leaving, and allow extra time.
3. Secure your home and garden
- Tie down or move indoors loose items such as bins, trampolines, garden furniture, pots and tools that could become dangerous in high winds. [41]
- Clear leaves and debris from drains and gullies where safe to do so, to help reduce localised surface flooding.
4. Prepare a simple emergency kit
- Keep important documents, prescription medicines, a torch and spare batteries, warm clothing, blankets, non‑perishable food and bottled water together in an accessible place. [42]
- Make sure mobile phones are fully charged and that you have key emergency numbers stored.
5. Look out for others
- Check in on neighbours, older people and anyone who may need extra help, especially if they live in at‑risk areas or may struggle to get supplies. [43]
Outlook
Storm Bram is bringing a classic winter onslaught of wind, rain and coastal hazards to the British Isles, with impacts stretching from Cornwall and south Wales to the Highlands and the Atlantic coasts of Ireland. While conditions should gradually improve from mid‑week, further unsettled weather is likely, and rivers in some areas may remain high even after the heaviest rain has cleared. [44]
For now, the clear message from forecasters and emergency planners is simple: stay weather‑aware, check local forecasts and travel updates, and take the warnings seriously.
References
1. news.sky.com, 2. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 3. www.met.ie, 4. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 5. en.wikipedia.org, 6. www.met.ie, 7. www.met.ie, 8. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 9. news.sky.com, 10. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 11. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 12. news.sky.com, 13. news.sky.com, 14. news.sky.com, 15. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 16. www.met.ie, 17. www.met.ie, 18. www.met.ie, 19. www.independent.co.uk, 20. www.irishnews.com, 21. www.itv.com, 22. nation.cymru, 23. www.tenby-today.co.uk, 24. www.tenby-today.co.uk, 25. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 26. www.nationalrail.co.uk, 27. www.tenby-today.co.uk, 28. www.the-independent.com, 29. www.nationalrail.co.uk, 30. www.traffic.gov.scot, 31. www.traffic.gov.scot, 32. www.traffic.gov.scot, 33. news.sky.com, 34. en.wikipedia.org, 35. news.sky.com, 36. www.the-independent.com, 37. www.met.ie, 38. www.the-independent.com, 39. www.met.ie, 40. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 41. www.the-independent.com, 42. weather.metoffice.gov.uk, 43. www.met.ie, 44. www.the-independent.com
