Hundreds of schools to shut as Storm Eowyn brings red weather warning for wind
Share:
A dozen councils have said all schools will close and police have warned people not to travel in the areas affected by a rare red “danger to life” high wind weather warning issued for parts of Scotland on Friday. Forecasters warn gusts of up to 100mph during Storm Eowyn could result in flying debris and pose a danger to life, and people are urged to stay indoors.
Police said no road users should travel in or to the red weather warning area on Friday. The Met Office red warning runs from 10am to 5pm and covers the central belt including Glasgow and Edinburgh, stretching north on the west coast to Jura in Argyll and Bute and south to Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway.
Glasgow, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, North and South Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian, East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and Argyll and Bute councils have said all schools and nurseries will be closed on Friday. Clackmannanshire, Edinburgh and Falkirk councils have said they will issue updates later.
Forecasters said the conditions bring a “risk of significant disruption to transport and power supplies as well as dangerous conditions outdoors”, with “very dangerous” driving conditions because of fallen trees and other debris. They also warned of the potential for damage to buildings and homes.
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan said: “Our advice to any road user is not travelling, and that’s really the message we want to get across today. “It’s really unusual for us to have a red weather warning and that advice is in place for the duration of that warning.”.
