Ireland and Scotland are on high alert as Storm Eowyn, a violent weather system, is expected to hit on Friday, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain, and snow. Forecasters have warned that wind speeds could exceed 130 km/h (80 mph), with conditions posing significant danger to life and property.
Keith Leonard, chair of Ireland’s National Emergency Co-ordination Group, described the storm as “damaging, dangerous, and destructive.” He cautioned that power outages are likely and urged residents to stay indoors during the storm’s peak.
In preparation for the storm, schools across both countries were ordered to close, and public transport services, including trains and buses, were cancelled. Ireland’s National Transport Authority confirmed that no public transport would operate during the red alert, while Northern Ireland and Scotland also halted services.
A red warning has been issued for large parts of Ireland, with the UK’s Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland also placed under the highest-level red alert. Approximately 4.5 million people in these at-risk areas will receive emergency telephone alerts.
In addition to the storm, the UK Environment Agency warned of potential flooding in southern and central England over the coming days.
Experts have pointed to climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, as a factor in the increasing intensity of such storms, with warmer oceans fueling more severe weather events.
