Once in a generation Storm Eowyn hits UK with 100mph winds
Storm Eowyn has caused chaos in the UK, with high winds, flight cancellations, and power outages affecting thousands of homes
Storm Eowyn, UK, Ireland, Scotland, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Donegal
Edinburgh: Storm Eowyn has really made a mess of things in the UK and Ireland. With winds hitting 100mph, it’s been a wild ride. Over 1,000 flights got canceled, and around 250,000 homes lost power. It’s not over yet, either.
People in the hardest-hit areas are saying the weather is just “crazy.” Trees are down everywhere, public transport is a nightmare, and everyday stuff is flying around like it’s in a movie. Sadly, a man in Co Donegal lost his life when a tree fell on his car.
The Met Office even issued a rare red warning in Scotland, telling folks to stay indoors because it’s just too dangerous out there. A gust of 100mph was recorded in South Lanarkshire, and in Ireland, winds reached a staggering 114mph, leaving nearly a million homes without power.
Travel has been a total disaster. Trains and ferries across Scotland were suspended, and hundreds of schools closed their doors. Roads are blocked with debris, and vehicles have been blown over. It’s chaos!
And it looks like the bad weather isn’t going anywhere soon. An amber warning is in place for Saturday, so more travel issues are on the horizon. BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston called it a “once in a generation” storm, and Northern Ireland’s first minister said they’re “in the eye of the storm.”
On Friday, one in five flights to and from British and Irish airports were canceled, affecting about 150,000 passengers. Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow, and Glasgow were hit the hardest. Some passengers even had to circle around for hours before being sent back to where they started.
For example, a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Edinburgh couldn’t land and had to return after circling for nearly three hours. Commuters faced delays and cancellations from multiple train operators, making the whole situation even worse.
Motorists in areas under red and amber warnings were advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Some major roads were closed due to the strong winds, making it even trickier to get around.
In the Isle of Man, they declared a major incident because of all the fallen trees blocking roads. The winds are no joke; hurricane-force winds start at 74mph, and they’ve been hitting much higher than that.
Emergency alerts were sent to about 4.5 million people, which is a record for real-life alerts. In Galway, trees that had been standing for over 60 years were uprooted, and an ice skating rink in Dublin lost its roof!
With all this going on, the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing live show in Glasgow has been postponed. The organizers apologized for the inconvenience but assured everyone that their tickets would still be valid for the new date.
Power companies are working hard to restore electricity, but with wind speeds still around 90mph, it’s tough for them to assess the damage. They’re doing their best to get things back to normal as soon as it’s safe.
As the storm continues, more yellow and amber warnings are in place for the weekend. It’s going to be a rough few days ahead, so everyone needs to stay safe and keep an eye on the weather updates.