LONDON — Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland are preparing for one of the most severe storms in many years, with meteorologists alerting residents to the possibility of extraordinarily strong winds typically associated with hurricanes, posing significant risks to life.
The weather agencies in Ireland and the U.K. have both issued critical weather alerts regarding the impending effects of Storm Éowyn, which is anticipated to strike the Irish coastline early Friday morning before advancing northeast towards Scotland.
As the storm is expected to bring wind gusts reaching approximately 100 mph (161 kph), government officials are advising people to defer any travel plans, and several schools in the affected regions have opted to close for the day.
Ireland’s Met Éireann has declared a rare nationwide red wind warning, effective from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m., warning of a potential “danger to life” alongside “extremely hazardous travel conditions,” as well as potential coastal flooding.
Eoin Sherlock of Met Éireann remarked, “We haven’t encountered forecasted wind speeds like this in a long time. Our residents must exercise extreme caution, as we anticipate hurricane-force winds.”
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group of Ireland has articulated that this storm is likely to be one of the “most severe” the nation has faced.
Similarly, the Met Office in the U.K. has also issued a red wind warning for Northern Ireland and parts of central and southwestern Scotland for Friday.
Paul Gundersen, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, underscored the significance of this warning: “We reserve the issuance of Red Warnings for severe weather that poses a genuine risk to life and can cause significant disruption, which certainly applies to Storm Éowyn.”
He indicated that wind speeds may frequently reach 80-90 mph, with potential gusts hitting 100 mph along especially exposed coastal areas. The record gust for Northern Ireland stands at 124 mph recorded in County Down in January 1974.
This marks the first red wind warning for Northern Ireland since the Met Office adopted impact-based weather alerts in 2011. Consequently, all schools in Northern Ireland are advised to close on Friday.
“It’s crucial to understand that a red warning is very serious. It indicates a true threat to life and potential property damage, and the public should anticipate considerable travel disruptions and possible power outages due to the severity of the conditions,” stated Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister.
The Met Office warning will be in effect on Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Northern Ireland, and parts of southern Scotland will be under alert from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, remarked that the police would issue a formal “do not travel” directive later in areas covered by the red warning.
“We must be clear: People should avoid traveling,” he emphasized.
Numerous Scottish local authorities will close their schools on Friday, including all schools in Glasgow, and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh will also suspend operations.
Other regions of the U.K., including England and Wales, can expect disturbances, as every part of the country will be under some form of weather warning at various times on Friday.
“It is vital to recognize that even areas outside the immediate Red Warning zones are likely to experience disruptive weather, severely affecting travel plans and potentially leading to power outages for some,” added Gundersen from the Met Office.
Dr. Ambrogio Volonté, a senior research fellow in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, stated that the structure of Storm Éowyn resembles some of the “most formidable storms in recent decades,” and its “anticipated intensity solidifies its place among the strongest storms we’ve faced.”
