The Republic of Ireland experienced record-breaking wind speeds as Storm Eowyn, the fourth named storm of the season, unleashed gusts of up to 114mph, the highest ever recorded in the country. These extreme weather conditions have now begun to make their way across the Irish Sea towards the UK, prompting widespread disruptions to transportation services and issuing rare red weather warnings in certain areas.
In response to the impending storm, rail services and flights have been cancelled, and roads have been shut down as a precautionary measure against the hazardous conditions expected to hit parts of the UK. The Met Office has alerted the public that the impending storm is likely to cause severe damage to buildings, uproot trees, and lead to power outages, urging residents to take necessary precautions.
Train operator ScotRail took preemptive action by suspending all its services across Scotland on Friday, citing concerns for passenger safety due to the forecasted severe weather conditions. Air travel has also been heavily impacted, with numerous flights from airports in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast International being cancelled in anticipation of the storm. Dublin Airport reported mass cancellations of flights for Friday, affecting hundreds of scheduled departures and arrivals.
As Storm Eowyn continues its path towards the UK, Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries between Heysham and the Isle of Man have cancelled all Friday sailings. Several other train operators, including Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry, and Grand Central, have advised customers against travelling on routes spanning parts of north Wales, Scotland, and northern England.
Given the severity of the weather warnings issued, passengers and motorists in the affected areas have been strongly advised to refrain from unnecessary travel unless absolutely essential. National Highways have been prompted to close major roads such as the A66 in North Yorkshire and Cumbria, and the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire due to the high winds posing significant safety risks.
In Wales, the authorities are actively managing surface flooding on the B4598 between Raglan and Abergavenny, as emergency services work to mitigate the impact of the storm. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has characterized Storm Eowyn as an “exceptional weather event,” forecasting the strongest winds the country has seen since 1998.
The Met Office has issued red weather warnings for wind in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, with gusts of up to 100mph expected along the coasts. Additionally, amber wind warnings are in effect for various regions in Scotland, northern England, and Wales, with wind speeds reaching 60 to 70mph in these areas.
As the storm progresses, a yellow wind warning encompasses most of the UK throughout Friday, alongside smaller yellow warnings for snow in Scotland and rain in south-west England and Wales. The RAC Breakdown has advised motorists in the warning areas to take precautions such as avoiding parking near trees, maintaining a firm grip on the steering wheel, steering clear of coastal routes, and watching out for debris on the roads.
Amidst the storm’s impending impact, emergency alerts were sent to over 4.5 million people via their mobile phones, marking the largest real-life deployment of this alert system to date. Further amber and yellow weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued for the weekend, extending the cautionary measures in place to ensure public safety amidst the volatile weather conditions.