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Storm Éowyn is poised to unleash unprecedented weather conditions across Ireland and Scotland, with meteorological agencies issuing their highest-level warnings amid concerns of life-threatening conditions and extensive disruption.
Ireland’s national forecaster, Met Éireann, has activated a countrywide red alert for wind, effective from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m. The warning emphasizes severe risks including “danger to life,” hazardous travel conditions, and potential flooding in coastal regions.
‘Most Intense Storms in Decades’: UK Prepares For ‘Danger to Life’ Winds https://t.co/jYUvL11zK3
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The incoming Irish leader Simon Harris emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating “The risk to life is extreme and real. You need to pay attention. Do not travel. Do not go near the sea.”
Similarly, the U.K.’s Met Office has declared a red warning for Northern Ireland and portions of Scotland, marking a historic moment as Northern Ireland’s first red warning since the implementation of impact-based alerts in 2011. In response, Northern Irish authorities have directed all schools to suspend operations on Friday.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen explained, “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.”
Wind speeds are expected to reach alarming levels, with widespread gusts between 80-90 m.p.h. and potential peaks of 100 m.p.h. in exposed coastal areas. For context, Northern Ireland’s highest recorded wind speed stands at 124 m.p.h., documented in County Down during January 1974.
The warning periods vary by region, with Northern Ireland’s alert running from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., while southern Scotland’s warning extends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The remainder of the United Kingdom won’t be spared, as England and Wales face their own weather alerts throughout Friday.
Gundersen added that even areas outside the red warning zones should prepare for significant disruption, particularly affecting travel plans and potentially causing power outages.
Dr Ambrogio Volonté from the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology drew parallels between Éowyn and other notable storms, stating that its “predicted intensity puts it firmly in the ranks of the strongest we´ve experienced.”