Cyclone Eowyn brings unprecedented chaos to Ireland and Scotland
Cyclone Eowyn has reached Europe, paralysing Ireland and Scotland. Authorities have warned of an "extreme threat to life". Met Éireann and the Met Office have issued red alerts. The British newspaper "The Sun" describes it as the "storm of the century".
Cyclone Eowyn, which formed in the North Atlantic, has brought strong winds and heavy rain to Europe. The Irish Meteorological Service, Met Éireann, has issued a red alert for strong winds, which came into effect from Friday morning. A similar warning has been issued by the British Meteorological Office, the Met Office, marking the first instance of such an alert since 2011.
At County Galway station in western Ireland, the wind reached an average speed of 85 mph, with gusts even hitting 114 mph. In Dublin, gusts exceeded 62 mph. Meteorologists warn that the storm poses an "extreme" threat to life and is "the strongest storm in generations".
Met Éireann has reported that the previous wind speed record in the region (113 mph), which had stood since 1945, has been broken.
The red warning—the highest level of weather alert—is in effect for the entire island. It was issued for the first time since 2017, when Hurricane Ophelia hit the region, resulting in the deaths of three people. The warning is expected to be lifted for most of Ireland at 11 AM local time, and in Northern Ireland at 2 PM.
Transport disruption and school closures
All schools and universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland have been closed. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors and prepare for possible power outages. Public transport is not operational, and many ferry crossings and bridges are inaccessible. British Airways has suspended nearly 100 local flights, and the Scottish operator ScotRail has cancelled all trains.
Passengers planning to travel from airports in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Kerry, as well as some cities in the UK, should check the status of their flights. Cyclone Eowyn is expected to leave the UK on Saturday, although yellow warnings for strong winds will remain in place in the north of the country.
