Millions of mobile phone users received an emergency red weather warning in Scotland and Northern Ireland due to the possibility of 100 mph winds endangering lives in some areas of the UK. Schools have been closed and people have been advised not to travel on Friday.
According to the Met Office, Storm Eowyn is expected to cause power outages, uproot trees, and damage structures, thus rare red weather warnings will be in effect across Northern Ireland starting at 7 a.m. on Friday. Scotland will be under the alert at 10 a.m., while the rest of the UK is under amber and yellow warnings on Friday.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen explained: “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.
“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”
The Impact of Storm Eowyn
The Met Office in the UK cautions that there is a high probability of a life-threatening situation and advises people to stay away from Storm Éowyn, which is pronounced AY-oh-win.
The Met Office cautioned people to anticipate major travel disruptions and building damage.
The UK will see a sharp rise in winds from the west to the east on Friday morning and into the afternoon, with maximum gusts of 80 to 90 mph (129 to 145 km/h).
Roads will likely be severely damaged, flights, trains, and ferries may be cancelled, and many trees will probably be blown over, causing major travel disruption.
Additionally, power outages are likely to occur, some of which may persist for several days. Flight disruptions could occur, Belfast City Airport advised.
All rail services in Scotland will be suspended on Friday, according to ScotRail, which also stated that the suspension was necessary to protect both employees and passengers.
Regional Breakdown
Northern Ireland
- A red warning for wind is in effect from 7:00 to 14:00 on Friday.
- Amber Warning for wind from 6:00 to 21:00.
- Yellow warning for wind from 0:00 to 23:59.
Scotland
- Red warning for wind from 10:00 to 17:00 on Friday.
- Amber Warning for wind from 6:00 to 21:00. Amber Warning for wind from 13:00 on Friday to 6:00 on Saturday in the northern half of Scotland.
- Yellow warning for wind from 0:00 until 23:59 on Friday.
- Yellow warning for snow from 6:00 to 23:59 on Friday.
- Yellow warning for winds on Saturday from 0:00 to 15:00.
Northern England
- Yellow warning for snow from 03:00 until 12:00 on Friday.
- Amber Warning for wind from 6:00 to 21:00 a yellow warning for wind from 0:00 until 23:59 on Friday.
Southern England
- Yellow warning for wind in the southeast region of England on Friday from 5:00 to 15:00.
- Yellow warning for rain in the southwest region of England on Friday from 0:00 to 9:00.
Wales
- Yellow warning for rain from 0:00 to 9:00 on Friday.
- Yellow warning for winds from 5:00 to 23:59 on Friday.
- North Wales is under an amber warning for wind from 6:00 to 21:00 on Friday.
