Rail services and flights have been axed, with rare red weather warnings issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland as Storm Eowyn is likely to damage buildings, uproot trees and cause power cuts, the Met Office said.
— Met Office (@metoffice) #StormÉowyn has been named and is forecast to bring strong winds to much of the UK on Friday and into Saturday.Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/XCphCgyj2ZJanuary 21, 2025
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".
Dozens of flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports were cancelled on Friday morning due to ongoing weather conditions, while Belfast International warned of significant disruption to flights.
Dublin Airport announced more than 110 scheduled departures and 110 arrivals have been cancelled by airlines for Friday.
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.
Avon and Somerset reported a number of local roads had been blocked due to fallen trees, advising motorists to "take care when travelling".
In Wales, Gwent Police confirmed emergency services were working to manage surface flooding on the B4598 Raglan Toward Abergavenny.
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.
Yellow warnings for snow have been issued for Scotland with many train services cancelled. (EPA PHOTO)
Met Eireann reported the mean wind speed record of 130km/h set in 1945 has been broken during the storm.
The Irish weather service said gusts of up to 173km/h were recorded at Mace Head off Ireland's west coast early Friday local time.
Red warnings for wind have been issued by the Met Office in Northern Ireland and for western and central areas of Scotland.
Bonnie Diamond, the weather service's civil contingencies adviser for Northern Ireland, said it was first ever red weather warning issued since the system was installed in 2011.
Diamond says they only happen when the Met Office is "absolutely certain" there is going to be risk to life and widespread damage.
"As of today, it has become crystal clear that this is going to be a very serious weather event with extreme winds and that's why we've issued this red warning," she said.
There is a yellow wind warning covering most of the UK for the entirety of Friday. Smaller yellow warnings for snow in Scotland and rain in south-west England and Wales.
Further amber and yellow weather warnings for wind and rain have also been issued across Saturday and Sunday.
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