Storm Éowyn poses danger to life in parts of UK and Ireland with 100mph winds
Storm Éowyn poses danger to life in parts of UK and Ireland with 100mph winds
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Flights cancelled, schools closed and millions told to stay amid record gusts, snow and heavy rain. Flights have been delayed, roads closed and ferry services cancelled as 100mph (160km/h) winds pose a danger to life in parts of the UK on Friday morning.
![[Hazardous driving conditions in Scotland.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/75687d93c3da4ed3998a4ab9bec1dc28cf255e46/0_28_2379_1427/master/2379.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Rail services were suspended, with rare red weather warnings issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland, after the Met Office said Storm Éowyn was likely to damage buildings, uproot trees and trigger power cuts. The train operator ScotRail suspended all services across Scotland on Friday and said it would not be safe to operate passenger services.
A wind speed of 114mph had been recorded in Ireland, the fastest since records began, the forecaster Met Éireann said. Dozens of flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports were cancelled, while Belfast International warned of significant disruption to flights. Dublin airport announced more than 110 scheduled departures and 110 arrivals had been cancelled on Friday.
CalMac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries between Heysham and the Isle of Man announced Friday’s planned sailings had been cancelled. A number of train companies, including Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry and Grand Central, have halted services on routes across parts of north Wales, Scotland and northern England.
Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel unless essential. National Highways said the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and M6 in Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were closed overnight due to strong winds.
