London, January 24, 2025 – The Europe Today: Flights, trains, and ferry services have been severely disrupted, while major roads remain closed as Storm Eowyn brings 100mph winds, creating life-threatening conditions across the UK on Friday morning.
The Met Office has issued rare red weather warnings for Scotland and Northern Ireland, cautioning against severe damage to buildings, uprooted trees, power outages, and flying debris. Train operator ScotRail suspended all services across Scotland, deeming it unsafe to operate due to the extreme weather conditions.
Airports in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast faced widespread cancellations, with Belfast International Airport reporting significant disruptions. Dublin Airport confirmed the cancellation of over 220 flights, including scheduled departures and arrivals.
Ferry operators, including Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries serving routes between Heysham and the Isle of Man, announced the suspension of all planned sailings for Friday.
Rail operators Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry, and Grand Central advised passengers to avoid travel in affected regions, including northern England, north Wales, and Scotland, as services were halted.
Road closures also compounded the chaos. The A66 between North Yorkshire and Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were shut overnight due to hazardous winds. The M48 Severn Bridge was closed, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 restricted access for high-sided vehicles.
In Wales, Gwent Police worked to manage surface flooding on the B4598, while Avon and Somerset Police reported numerous blocked roads due to fallen trees.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland described the storm as an “exceptional weather event,” noting it has brought the strongest winds seen in the region since 1998. In Ireland, Met Éireann reported a record-breaking mean wind speed of 81mph, with gusts reaching 108mph along the west coast.
Red weather warnings are in effect for Northern Ireland from 7am to 2pm and for western and central Scotland from 10am to 5pm. Amber wind warnings are in place for northern England, north Wales, and southern Scotland, with gusts of 80 to 90mph expected inland and up to 100mph along coastal areas. A yellow wind warning covers the entire UK throughout Friday.
Additional yellow warnings for snow in Scotland and rain in southwest England and Wales remain active.
The RAC Breakdown service has urged motorists to stay safe by avoiding coastal routes, parking away from trees, and being vigilant for debris.
Approximately 4.5 million emergency alerts were sent on Thursday, warning residents of the storm’s severity, marking the largest use of the UK’s emergency alert system to date.
Further weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued for Saturday and Sunday, signaling continued disruption across the UK.