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Flights and ferries cancelled amid Storm Éowyn arrival

Katie Collier Profile Image
By Katie Collier Trending News Reporter
Storm Éowyn is set to batter the UK <i>(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)</i>
Storm Éowyn is set to batter the UK (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
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The arrival of Storm Éowyn is expected to bring 100mph winds in some areas, posing a danger to life in parts of the UK this morning (January 24).

As a result, flights have been delayed, roads closed and ferry services cancelled.

Rare red weather warnings have been issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland as the storm is expected to damage buildings, uproot trees and cause power cuts, the Met Office said.

Rail services and flights have been axed due to the poor conditions.

Train operator ScotRail suspended all services across Scotland on Friday, saying it “would not be safe to operate passenger services due to forecast weather conditions”.

Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have cancelled dozens of flights this morning due to the ongoing weather conditions while Belfast International warned of significant disruption to flights.

Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries between Heysham and the Isle of Man both announced Friday’s planned sailings had been cancelled.

Rail companies warn passengers not to travel amid Storm Éowyn

A number of train companies including Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry and Grand Central have also told customers not to travel on routes across parts of north Wales, Scotland and northern England with no services running.

Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel “unless absolutely essential”.

What different Met Office weather warnings mean

A66 and M6 partially closed due to strong winds

National Highways said the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and M6 in Cumbria as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were both closed overnight due to strong winds.

Further south, the M48 Severn Bridge was closed due to strong winds, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 between Devon and Cornwall was closed to high-sided vehicles until 5am.

Avon and Somerset reported a number of local roads had been blocked due to fallen trees, advising motorists to “take care when travelling”.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland described the storm as an “exceptional weather event” and said it was expected to bring the strongest winds seen in the country since 1998.

Met Eireann reported the mean wind speed record of 81mph set in 1945 at Foynes Co. Limerick has been broken during the storm.

The Irish weather service said gusts of up to 108mph Mace Head off Ireland’s west coast by 4am on Friday.

Met Office issues yellow, amber and red warnings for Storm Éowyn

The Met Office has issued red warnings for wind in Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm on Friday and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.

Gusts of 80 to 90mph are expected widely inland in the warning areas with speeds of up to 100mph likely along coasts, the forecaster said.

Amber wind warnings are also in place for Northern Ireland, the southern half of Scotland, northern England and north Wales between 6am and 9pm on Friday and the northern half of Scotland from 1pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

These warning areas could see winds reaching 60 to 70mph.

There is a yellow wind warning covering most of the UK for the entirety of Friday.

Smaller yellow warnings for snow in Scotland, from 6am to midnight and rain in south-west England and Wales until 9am.

Recommended reading:

RAC Breakdown issues advice to drivers urging them to stay safe

RAC Breakdown advised motorists in warning areas to stay safe by parking away from trees, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, avoid coastal routes and watch out for debris.

Some 4.5 million people received emergency alerts on their phones warning of the incoming storm in the “largest real-life use of the tool to date” on Thursday.

Further amber and yellow weather warnings for wind and rain have also been issued across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

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