The United Kingdom is bracing for severe weather disruption as Storm Amy, the first named storm of the 2025/26 season, approaches with forecasts predicting damaging winds up to 95mph and heavy rainfall. The Met Office has issued multiple weather warnings across northern and western regions, with amber wind alerts indicating potential danger to life in Scotland's Grampian, Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and Strathclyde areas between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Wind gusts are expected to reach 60-70mph widely across northern Britain, potentially exceeding 95mph in exposed coastal and hilly areas, particularly in the northwest. The storm system is forecast to bring gale-force winds initially to western regions during Friday evening before moving northeast overnight into Saturday. Transport Scotland officials have warned of expected disruption to transportation networks in affected areas, with flying debris posing additional hazards during the peak wind periods.

Heavy rainfall accompanies the strong winds, with western Scotland facing the brunt of precipitation. Forecasters predict rainfall totals could exceed 30-50mm within six to nine hours, increasing risks of localized flooding. Yellow rain warnings remain in effect for Northern Ireland and western Scotland through Thursday evening, expanding to cover all of Scotland and much of northern England from Friday noon through midnight.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tom Crabtree emphasized that while uncertainty remains about the storm's exact track, the system will significantly impact northern and western regions. "Forecasts and warnings will be updated as the situation becomes more clear," Crabtree stated, urging residents to monitor local forecasts. Multiple yellow wind warnings will be in force across Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland from Friday afternoon through Saturday, affecting power supplies, transportation and outdoor activities.

London's Metropolitan Police has reversed its longstanding position on grooming gangs in the capital, acknowledging for the first time that it has multiple active investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation. The shift came after an investigation by MyLondon and The Daily Express challenged official statements from both police leadership and Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had consistently maintained there were "no reports" or "no indication" of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs operating in London.

The investigation uncovered evidence from four separate His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports spanning 2016 to 2025 that documented at least six potential victims of grooming gang abuse. These case studies, which the Mayor of London personally responded to according to public statements, described children as young as 13 being exploited by groups of predatory men. The reports detailed how girls were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by multiple perpetrators, and subjected to life-threatening situations.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley revealed to Assembly Members at City Hall that the force now acknowledges a "steady flow" of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations and a "very significant" number of historic cases requiring reinvestigation. The commissioner estimated these reviews would cost "millions of pounds a year, for several years" to properly investigate, contradicting previous assertions that the force had "not seen" such cases in London.

Political figures including Reform UK MP Lee Anderson and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp have criticized the mayor's handling of the situation, with Anderson stating there is "real, credible evidence that grooming gangs exist in London" and Philp alleging that Khan is "facilitating a cover-up." A spokesman for the mayor maintained that Khan has "always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority" and remains "committed to doing all he can to protect children in London."