Storm Éowyn 'dangerous' red wind warning for Scotland ahead of 'damaging' 100mph gales and snow

The Met Office has issued a super rare red weather warning with Storm Éowyn set to batter Scotland tomorrow. An Atlantic jet stream is bringing the destructive weatherfront to the UK's shores in the early hours of Friday, January 24.

The national forecaster has put a number of weather alerts in place over the coming days. And the latest red warning is the most extreme that can be issued, as the Met Office predicts there is a high likelihood it will hit the affected area and it is expected to have a high impact when it does.

Storm Éowyn's gusts are expected to reach up to 100mph in some areas and cause "very dangerous conditions and significant disruption". The red alert is in place from 10am on Friday, January 24, until 5pm that day.

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The warning area stretches from Eyemouth on the east coast to the Isle of Mull off the west coast and down to the southwestern tip of the country past Stranraer. The majority of the Central Belt is within the danger zone, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

This means millions of Scots have to brace themselves for the "danger to life" that Storm Éowyn will bring. The winds will "rapidly increase" during Friday morning into the afternoon, with most areas within the red zone experiencing winds of 80-90mph and highs of 100mph on the exposed west coast.

Flying debris will put lives at risk, as will huge waves crashing onto seafronts and coastal roads. Power cuts are expected across various regions, with damage to buildings and homes predicted too.

Storm Éowyn, pronounced ‘Ay-oh-win’, will cause "very dangerous driving conditions", according to the Met Office, with road closures to be expected. Delays and cancellations are highly likely for those looking to travel by rail, air, or ferry.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “We reserve the issuing of red warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.

“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the red warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”

As well as the galeforce winds, Storm Éowyn is expected to bring heavy rainfall and even snow. A yellow warning for snow is in place for northern Scotland from 6am on Friday until midnight.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen continued: “Storm Éowyn is a multi-hazard event, with snow likely for some, rain for many and strong winds for much of the UK. As a result, a number of weather warnings have been issued, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.

“Storm Éowyn is expected to cross Northern Ireland early on Friday morning. It will then continue northeast across the northern half of Scotland during Friday afternoon and is expected to be centred near Shetland during Friday evening.

“It’s important to note that even those away from the immediate Red Warning areas will still likely see disruptive weather, with travel plans likely to be severely impacted, as well as the possibility of power cuts for some.”

Regions and local authorities affected by the Met Office red warning:

Central, Tayside & Fife

• Clackmannanshire

• Falkirk

• Fife

• Stirling

SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

• Dumfries and Galloway

• East Lothian

• Edinburgh

• Midlothian Council

• Scottish Borders

• West Lothian

Strathclyde

• Argyll and Bute

• East Ayrshire

• East Dunbartonshire

• East Renfrewshire

• Glasgow

• Inverclyde

• North Ayrshire

• North Lanarkshire

• Renfrewshire

• South Ayrshire

• South Lanarkshire

• West Dunbartonshire

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