Storm Éowyn set to batter the UK with up to 90mph winds - Friday 24 Jan 2025

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Storm Éowyn has been named by the Met Office and will bring severe gales to parts of the United Kingdom on Friday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind on Friday and Saturday.  Gusts of up to 90mph (145km/h) - or possibly even more - could bring localised damage, power cuts and travel disruption. Heavy rain and hill snow are also expected.  It will mark a big change from the quiet and rather cold weather that has dominated over the last week or so.



Storm Éowyn – pronounced "ay-oh-win" – will undergo rapid development during Thursday as it moves across the Atlantic

While some of the details may still change, depending on the exact track Éowyn takes in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), the strongest winds on Friday are likely across parts of Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, northern and western areas of England and Wales.

The Met Office warns of gusts between 80-90mph (129-145km/h) around hills coastal areas of the Irish Sea.  But widely gusts of 60-70mph (97-113km/h) are expected through the day.  Elsewhere, across northern and western Scotland, parts of the Midlands and southern England, gusts of 50-65mph (80-105km/h) are expected but around coastal areas up to 80mph (129km/h).  Met Office yellow warnings are likely to be adjusted and possibly upgraded ahead of Friday.

These gales and severe gales are likely to bring travel disruption and some damage, which could include roof tiles being blown off and power cuts.  Large waves are also expected with coastal overtopping.  Outbreaks of rain are also expected and while it will turn milder for some - especially in the south - it will remain cold enough for snow to fall over hills in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.

Please, be aware and take care out there. Chris.

[anthony215]

I can definitely se this being a bad one . They saying it's going to hit us with category 2 hurricane winds when it makes landfall

[CyclingSid]

The Met Office https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcn8t1p3y#?date=2025-01-24 forecasts gusting to Violent Storm 11 at Bournemouth. Fortunately in the early hours of Friday morning, so nobody should be at risk of having their deck chair and windbreak blown away.

Being a Southerly wind I would expect a fair amount of the beach to be dumped on the promenade. Not the conditions for the Brompton.

[Mark A]

Please keep the crew and passengers on the up Night Riviera in your thoughts as it's scheduled to pass Dawlish at 00:45, with a predicted 18 metres per second gale from the south and at the top of a (thankfully neap) tide.

Having recently encountered the term 'Pyjamas on platforms', I'm thinking 'No tonight thanks, and especially not at Dawlish'.

Mark

https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/hourly-table/2-2651474/United%20Kingdom/England/Devon/Dawlish?i=1

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:Y21931/2025-01-23/detailed#allox_id=0

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Millions get phone alert as Storm Éowyn closes in

Millions have received an emergency phone alert over the approaching Storm Éowyn, as schools and transport networks are due to shut and people asked to stay home in parts of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

The worst disruption is due to hit Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland on Friday, where the Met Office has issued rare red weather warnings and forecast gusts of up to 100mph (161km/h) in some coastal areas.

The warnings for wind mean flying debris could cause a danger to life.

Alerts were sent to about 4.5 million people in at least 28 areas of both Scotland and Northern Ireland just before 18:00 GMT on Thursday.

BBC Weather says it could be the storm of the century for the Republic of Ireland.

In the UK, the Met Office warns it is very likely there will be a risk to life and people should avoid travelling in Storm Éowyn - pronounced AY-oh-win - where possible.

Red is the most serious weather warning the Met Office can issue, meaning dangerous weather is expected and people are urged to take action to keep themselves and others safe. The Met Office warned people to expect damage to buildings and significant disruption to travel.

Emergency mobile alerts, like those issued on Thursday, make a sound even if a phone is on silent and this was the largest use of the tool so far. They coincided with the timings of the most serious warnings, with 22 areas in Scotland and six in Northern Ireland due to receive them.

The red warning for the whole of Northern Ireland will be in force from 07:00 to 14:00 on Friday, affecting the morning rush hour. Bus and train services have also been suspended in the country.

First minister Michelle O'Neill told reporters people can expect to receive an emergency alert on their phone this afternoon and "only to travel where it's absolutely necessary".

Stormont education minister Paul Givan said the decision to advise schools to close was taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children. "Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home," he said.

Then as the storm moves east, a red warning is in place across Scotland's central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, from 10:00 to 17:00.

First Minister John Swinney announced in the Scottish Parliament people should not travel in areas covered by the red warning.

Schools in at least 20 local authorities - covering most of central Scotland - will be closed on Friday.

In Edinburgh, the Scottish Parliament will also be shut to all but essential staff due to the severe weather warning.

Across the UK winds will rapidly increase from west to east on Friday morning into the afternoon with peak gusts of 80-90mph (129-145km/h).

There will likely be a large number of trees blown over with widespread disruption to travel with roads badly affected, and flights, trains and ferries will be subject to cancellations. Power cuts are also likely, some of which could last for a number of days.

Belfast City Airport warned there may be disruption to flights.

ScotRail has confirmed all rail services in Scotland will be suspended on Friday, adding that the closure was to ensure the safety of customers and staff. Train operators Avanti, LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about), Lumo, CrossCountry, and Grand Central, TransPennine Express and Northern have also issued warnings not to travel in the north of England and north Wales on Friday.

The AA urged drivers travelling in red weather warning areas to consider whether a journey is necessary, and if not to postpone it. "If you do need to travel, make sure you're prepared for what you may encounter. Expect to come across fallen branches and other debris on the roads, especially in rural areas," roadside technician Chris Wood said.

The Irish weather forecaster Met Éireann has issued blanket red weather warnings covering all of the country - with widespread gusts in excess of 80mph expected. Forecaster Eoin Sherlock warned of "hurricane force winds", adding that gusts in coastal areas may even exceed these already "extraordinary" levels.

The Isle of Man has also taken the rare step of issuing a red weather warning for "violent storm force winds" on Friday, with forecasts in the island in the Irish sea also expecting gusts of up to 85mph.

Meanwhile, an amber warning for wind is in place on Friday from 06:00 to 21:00, for the north of England, north Wales and Scotland's central belt. Another amber warning warning for wind on Friday starts later at 13:00 to 06:00 on Saturday, for parts of Scotland.

However, the big change to the UK's weather begins on Thursday, as heavy rain and strong and gusty winds move across the country. Parts of the south coast of England, South West and much of the Welsh coast are covered by a yellow weather warning for wind until 18:00 GMT on Thursday. It is likely sea fronts will be affected by spray and large waves and power and travel disruption.

[GBM]

The down sleeper ran to time as far as Newton Abbot.  Been stuck there for 80 minutes currently.
Tree blocking the line around Ivybridge, but also rumours of overrunning engineering works or signal failure at Totnes.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Here is the latest update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

One dead and more than a million without power in Storm Éowyn

One person has died in Ireland and hundreds of thousands of homes are without power in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) as Storm Éowyn brought record-breaking wind gusts.

A man died when a tree fell on his car in County Donegal, Gardaí (Irish police) said.  Ireland saw its strongest gusts ever recorded, and 725,000 properties there are without power.

Amber warnings remain in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, with millions of people urged to stay at home as gusts of 100mph (160km/h) were recorded.

One in five flights in the UK were cancelled and all trains halted in Scotland on Friday. Every school in Northern Ireland was closed as the storm damaged buildings and tore down trees.

Two red warnings were in force earlier on Friday in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.  Red is the most serious weather warning the Met Office can issue, meaning dangerous weather is expected and people are urged to take action to keep themselves and others safe.  There are also yellow warnings for wind, rain, snow and ice across the UK over the next few days.

Northern Ireland is in "the eye of the storm" with a real threat to life and property, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said.  The storm brought the strongest wind gusts in 27 years to Northern Ireland.  There are more than 280,000 properties without power in Northern Ireland - and the number is expected to rise, NIE Networks said.

(Article continues)

Please, continue to be careful out there - if you even do need to travel.

[ChrisB]

From the Worcester News

Great Western Rail train hits tree during Storm Eowyn

PASSENGERS heard a "massive bang" when a train travelling between Worcester and Hereford hit a tree.

The train, which left  Worcester Foregate Street at 6.34pm was delayed by half an hour, with others now also disrupted.

Charlotte Albutt, who was travelling on the train, said she heard a "massive bang" as the train hit the tree, followed by a "shudder", only two minutes into the journey.

The train came to a halt, making a "screech noise".

Initially, crews onboard told passengers that they had stopped at a red light, but then confirmed to passengers that the train had hit a tree, checks would need to be carried out, and the journey would be delayed.

Ms Albutt said she felt "frustrated" at the delay, with the train also being cold.

She added that the delay had affected her plans, with someone waiting for her at her arrival station.

On the National Rail website, the company is currently showing trains as delayed, with one delayed due to a fault on the train in front.

[JayMac]

Image from Network Rail posted on Facebook, along with a request for those living near railway lines.

It's usually lorries we worry about hitting rail bridges.

[Chris from Nailsea]

To be honest, I have very limited sympathy with Ms Albutt and her contact at her destination.

Were they really completely oblivious to the weather warnings, issued up to a week before, about Storm Éowyn?

Latest update from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): Éowyn strongest storm in 10 years, says Met Office