Storm Eowyn has sparked travel mayhem with thousands of trains, hundreds of flights and dozens of ferries cancelled as the UK set to be battered with 100mph hurricane-force winds.
The Met Office issued dire warnings for ‘exceptional’ hurricane-force winds, with the worst of Storm Eowyn expected to strike from the early hours of Friday across Scotland and Northern Ireland, where winds could reach up to 100mph.
On one of the busiest travel days of the week, millions of people are finding their planned journeys in chaos by the incoming extreme weather.
ScotRail has cancelled 2,400 trains for Friday, and several English train operators have made widespread cancellations.
British Airways has cancelled around 100 domestic and Irish links on Thursday and Friday. Ferries across the Irish Sea and Western Isles will stay in port for the storm.
Forecasters say flying debris could result in danger to life and ‘very dangerous’ driving conditions because of fallen trees. They have even warned pet owners to keep their dogs on leads amid fears they could be swept away by strong waves on the coast.
People across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland in the path of the storm have received emergency alerts on their phones tonight.
The alert played a loud siren sound for 10 seconds, even on phones which were on silent, and included information about the weather warnings and advice on how to stay safe.
The alert system has only been used four times previously since it launched in 2023.
The most recent time it was used by the Environment Agency was on January 6, 2025 to warn people in Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire that the River Soar was likely to flood and cut the area off.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: ‘The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind on Friday 24th January, meaning there is a danger to life across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
A man on Hampstead Heath in North London struggles with his umbrella in the wind and rain ahead of Storm Eowyn
A rare red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Storm Eowyn, warning of gusts of up to 100mph and ‘flying debris resulting in danger to life’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow
