What is a red weather warning? Recent UK examples
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A rare red weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland as the UK braces for Storm Éowyn. The fifth named storm of the season is set to batter the UK with up to 100mph winds from Friday, January 24, and weather warnings are currently in place for the whole of the weekend.
A red warning is the highest on the Met Office’s scale, above amber and yellow, and not to be taken lightly. Just a handful of red weather warnings have been issued in recent years and the Met Office website states: “If you haven’t already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather.
“It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.”. A red warning also means people should, where possible, avoid travelling. Here are recent examples of red weather warnings:.
The arrival of Storm Darragh prompted a red weather warning for wind which covered parts of Wales and coastal areas of Devon and Somerset, while a yellow warning was issued for other areas of the UK. Forecasters warned winds of up to 90 mph were likely, prompting the cancellation of sporting fixtures, Christmas festivals and events.
The storm left tens of thousands of homes without power and caused transport delays across wide swathes of England and Wales. The strong winds tore down structures on Llandudno's famous pier and two people were killed after trees fell onto their vehicles.
