Storm Kathleen has caused significant disruption across the UK and Ireland. With temperatures hitting 20.9°C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, Saturday was provisionally the hottest day of the year.
However, the warmth came with a cost. About 70 flights were canceled at UK airports before midday due to the storm, and around 34,000 people were left without power.
The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning covering parts of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, from 8 am to 10 pm on Saturday. A further warning for north-west Scotland was issued for Sunday, with gusts expected to reach up to 70mph.
Ireland was also hit hard, with thousands of customers losing electricity. An orange wind warning was in effect for Cork, Kerry, and Waterford from 7 am to 2 pm, and for Galway and Mayo until 6 pm.
High winds from Storm Kathleen caused flight cancellations, widespread power outages, and severe disruptions.A yellow wind warning was in place nationwide until 8 pm, with power outages mainly in the south and west.
In Northern Ireland, counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry were under a yellow wind warning from 8 am to 10 pm on Saturday. Gusts up to 70mph were predicted, particularly along the Down and Antrim coasts.
Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer explained that Storm Kathleen is responsible for the warmer temperatures, with southerly winds bringing warm air from the continent. Despite above-average temperatures, the strong winds made it feel colder in the west.
Glaisyer added that strong winds would persist into Sunday, especially in northern Scotland, with further showers expected.
The unsettled weather is likely to continue into next week, with heavy rain expected on Monday and Tuesday, particularly in the west. Storm Kathleen is the 11th named storm in eight months, marking only the second time in UK history that a storm season has reached the letter K.