When was the last red weather warning in Scotland as Storm Éowyn set to bring 100mph winds
A rare red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office as Storm Éowyn prepares to slam into Scotland tomorrow. Driven by a powerful Atlantic jet stream, the destructive weather system is set to reach the UK’s shores in the early hours of Friday, January 24, bringing chaos in its wake.
The Met Office has placed multiple weather warnings over the coming days, but the red warning stands out as the most severe. It signifies a high likelihood that the storm will directly impact the affected regions and cause significant disruption when it arrives.
Storm Éowyn is set to bring "very dangerous conditions and significant disruption" as gusts of up to 100mph batter Scotland on Friday. The Met Office's rare red weather warning will be in effect from 10am to 5pm that day, placing millions of Scots on high alert.
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The warning zone stretches from Eyemouth on the east coast to the Isle of Mull on the west and extends to the country's southwest tip near Stranraer. It includes much of the Central Belt, encompassing major cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Winds are expected to rapidly intensify on Friday morning, peaking at 80-90mph in most areas, with exposed locations on the west coast facing gusts as high as 100mph.
The storm poses a significant "danger to life," with flying debris, enormous waves pounding seafronts, and coastal roads at risk. Widespread power outages are anticipated, alongside damage to buildings and homes in the hardest-hit regions.
In preparation, numerous councils have announced school and nursery closures. Schools in more than 20 local authorities will be shut on Friday.
When was the last red weather warning issued in Scotland?
Red weather warnings are a rarity, reserved for only the most extreme and life-threatening conditions. In case of red weather warnings, there’s a high likelihood of a danger to life, with significant travel disruptions, potential energy supply issues, and widespread damage to property and infrastructure.
The last time Scotland faced a red wind warning was in January 2024, when Storms Isha and Jocelyn delivered severe weather to the Highalnds and North East. Areas including Thurso, Wick, Elgin, Banff, Fraserburgh, and Peterhead were placed under the rare alert as the storms unleashed their fury.
Arriving in quick succession, Storms Isha and Jocelyn, the ninth and tenth named storms of the 2023-2024 season, were fueled by a powerful jet stream. This jet stream, amplified by a stark temperature contrast across North America, was driven by a deep pool of cold air over Canada and the United States pushing southward.
The Met Office issued an amber warning that spanned more than half of the UK, along with an overnight red warning for parts of northeastern Scotland. Storm Isha hit first, battering the northern half of the UK on January 21 and 22, 2024.
Widespread gusts of 69-81mph were recorded, with Northumberland experiencing a peak gust of 99mph. Isha was noted as the most significant windstorm in terms of widespread gusts since Storm Eunice in February 2022.
Just days later, Storm Jocelyn followed, named by Ireland’s Met Éireann. Although less severe overall, Jocelyn still brought powerful winds to northern areas of the UK, with a remarkable gust of 140mph recorded at Cairngorm Summit.
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