Storm Eowyn has been named by the Met Office as the UK braces for strong winds, heavy rain and some snow brought on by a “weather bomb”.
Gusts of more than 80mph could cause power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings with a yellow wind warning issued for some parts of the country by the Met Office for Friday on Saturday (January 24 and 25).
There could also be a danger to life caused by flying debris.
The first half of the week will be “benign” with grey, cloudy weather and outbreaks of rain before the arrival of more unsettled conditions from Thursday (January 23), according to the forecast.
#StormÉowyn has been named and is forecast to bring strong winds to much of the UK on Friday and into Saturday.
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 21, 2025
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/XCphCgyj2Z
What is a "weather bomb"?
A “weather bomb” occurs when central pressure inside a larger low-pressure system falls rapidly over 24 hours, the Met Office explains.
This creates a peak of violent winds that are strong enough to bring down trees and cause structural damage.
The conditions for this particular 'weather bomb' are being caused by a powerful jet stream pushing the low pressure across the Atlantic and towards the UK, the Met Office said.
An initial front will bring heavy rain eastwards on Thursday (January 23), with 20 to 30mm of rainfall likely across north Wales and north-west England, while some hill snow is possible over the Scottish mountains.
The “weather bomb” will develop while still out over the Atlantic on Thursday and will be “a mature feature” when it arrives in over the UK on Friday (January 24), Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond added.
Storm Eowyn named by the Met Office as yellow weather warnings issued
Storm Eowyn has now been named by the Met Office due to the strong winds forecast on Friday and Saturday.
The Met Office has also issued yellow weather warnings due to strong winds will be in place from 12am until 11.59pm on Friday (January 24).
These warnings will be in place across Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the north and south of England.
Very strong south-easterly to south-westerly winds will see gusts reach 50 to 60mph inland and 70 to 80 mph along coastal areas.
The strong winds associated with Storm Eowyn are also set to cause:
- Damage to buildings
- Power cuts and disruptions to other services (such as mobile phone coverage)
- Injuries and danger to life from flying debris
- Disruption to travel on road, rail, air and ferry
- Roads and bridge closures
What different Met Office weather warnings mean
The Met Office has advised people to secure loose items outside their homes, including bins, garden furniture, trampolines and sheds, while gathering torches and batteries in case of a power cut.
When is a storm named?
In the UK a storm will be named when it has the potential to cause "disruption or damage which could result in an amber or red warning", The Met Office explained.
The weather forecaster continued: "This is based on our National Severe Weather Warnings service, which is a combination of both the impact the weather may have, and the likelihood of those impacts occurring.
"Storms will usually be named on the basis of the impacts from strong winds, but the impacts of other weather types will also be considered."
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Storm names for 2024/25
The storm names for 2024/25 are:
- Ashley (October 20 and 21, 2024)
- Bert (November 22 to 25)
- Conall (November 27)
- Darragh (December 6 and 7)
- Eowyn
- Floris
- Gerben
- Hugo
- Izzy
- James
- Kayleigh
- Lewis
- Mavis
- Naoise
- Otje
- Poppy
- Rafi
- Sayuri
- Tilly
- Vivienne
- Wren
For all the latest updates on weather warnings and forecasts in your area, visit the Met Office website (a link to which can be found above).
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