Eowyn – this name refers to an extremely strong storm coming over the British Isles. Forecasters warn of destructive winds that will break trees and take down power lines. For the first time in eight years, the whole of Ireland is under the highest level of weather alert. Residents must expect many communication difficulties. Schools will be closed.
– This is one of the most dangerous stormsthat Ireland will have to face. We will see a huge number of fallen trees, and many people will be without electricity and water supplies. Public safety is our main goal for the next 24 hours, said Keith Leonard, chairman of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), at a press conference on Thursday.
Storm Eowyn is expected to reach the coast of Ireland during the second part of the night from Thursday to Friday, initially with wind gusts of around 100-120 kilometers per hour, increasing in the morning and up to 130 km/h during the day, the national weather institution Met Eireann reported.
According to BBC Weather, this could be the “storm of the century” in Ireland.
Red alert across Ireland
Met Eireann has issued the highest level warning for the entire country, meaning there is a threat to life and serious transport disruption. A red alert has been issued across Ireland for the first time since Storm Ophelia in 2017, which led to the death of three people.
Public transport in Ireland during this warning, i.e. from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1 p.m. on Friday local time will not operate and all schools will be closed.
The most serious warnings in the UK
Parts of Scotland are also expected to be hit the hardest. The British Met Office issued a rare red alert there due to strong winds, with gusts exceeding 160 km/h in some coastal areas. It is to be valid from: 9am-4pm on Friday.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, around 4.5 million people received phone messages warning of dangerous weather conditions. As the BBC wrote, the alerts are supposed to emit a sound on the phone, even when it is muted. This is the widest use of this tool so far. The decision has been made to close schools in areas where the most violent weather is expected.
Orange warnings have been issued for other areas of northern and central Britain, and the lowest level of yellow warnings for the rest of the country.
Flight and rail disruptions
Services in Great Britain warned that trees fallen by the wind may block traffic on roads and railway routes. ScotRail announced that all services throughout Scotland will be suspended on Friday.
Belfast Airport has advised that flight disruptions may occur.
According to local authorities, power outages in some places may last up to several days.
According to forecasts, the situation will calm down only in the evening and on the night from Friday to Saturday, when the center of the low will move away to the North Sea.
Met Office, Met Eireann, Reuters, BBC
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