The UK and Ireland authorities have closed schools and asked citizens to stay indoors as they prepare for what may be one of the most intense storms in recent years.
Storm Éowyn, an extratropical ‘bomb cyclone’ originating in the North Atlantic, is rapidly intensifying and is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snow to the region. The Met Office has issued rare red weather warnings, predicting wind gusts of up to 100 mph (161 km/h) in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland. These warnings have affected around 4.5 million people in 28 locations across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“We only issue red warnings for the most extreme weather which poses a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is what this situation is with Storm Éowyn,” Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said. Keith Leonard of the National Emergency Coordination Group for Ireland described the storm as ‘a very dangerous and destructive weather event’.
Schools Shut
Storm forces the closure of schools in Northern Ireland and Ireland, suspends public transportation; Republic of Ireland may face its worst storm in decades. The red warnings from the Met Office indicate that the impact of the storm could be life-threatening and disruptive, and significant transport delays and potential structural damage are expected.
Éowyn is also going to bring a heavy snowfall to southern Scotland and northern England, bringing up to 10 inches of the white stuff. Yellow warnings are in place for snow and wind from the Met Office in some areas. By Saturday, it will leave the UK.
Paul Givan, Northern Ireland’s education minister, emphasized that the closures were necessary to protect children’s safety. In Scotland, the First Minister urged people in red-alert areas to avoid travel. Transport disruptions are anticipated, including halted train services in Scotland, suspended flights from Belfast City Airport, and possible ferry cancellations. Power outages could also persist for several days.
Yellow weather warnings will be in place along the Welsh and southern English coasts as strong winds and heavy rain start to sweep across the UK on Thursday. Experts say that climate change may be behind the increasing strength of storms like Éowyn.