Northern Ireland

Storm Éowyn: Northern Ireland braced for biggest storm since 1998

The Met Office has said Friday’s storm will be the most severe in Northern Ireland since Boxing Day 1998, and the first red weather warning since 2011

A rare red weather warning has been issued for parts of Scotland as Storm Eowyn sweeps in
A rare red weather warning has been issued across the UK and Ireland as Storm Éowyn approaches. (Andrew Milligan/PA)
By Allan Preston

NORTHERN Ireland is braced for the most severe wind storm in a generation, with similar conditions not witnessed since Boxing Day 1998.

It is also the first red weather warning issued across the north since 2011.

All schools have been advised to close on Friday due to the extreme weather, a direction not given in Northern Ireland since Hurricane Ophelia in October 2017.

Wind speeds during Storm Éowyn are expected to reach gusts of up to 80-90mph, including up to 100mph along some exposed coasts.

Storm Éowyn live: Updates on road closures, flights and emergency information as red weather warning brings ‘threat to life’

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While this presents serious risks to public safety, the Met Office told the Irish News it is unlikely the Northern Ireland record will be broken – with the highest gust ever recorded in 1974 at 124mph (108kts).

Friday’s storm, however, is forecast to be the biggest Northern Ireland-wide event in terms of very strong winds since Boxing Day 1998, where a storm caused widespread damage across infrastructure and impacted nearly all public services.

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.

“Winds will pick up from early morning on Friday. There may be a slight reduction in wind strength for a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead before winds rapidly increase again. The strong winds will ease from later Friday.”

Northern Ireland could also experience snowfall as weather system initially bumps into cold air, however much of this will quickly change to rain as milder air moves in.

Mr Gundersen adds that this has been caused by a very strong jet stream, helping to deepen the area of low pressure out in the Atlantic.

As well as Friday’s school closures, the PSNI has warned the public that a red weather warning represents a risk to life.

The storm is expected to arrive from midnight on Thursday, with a yellow weather warning place, moving to amber by 6am on Friday and towards the red warning by 7am, expected to last until 2pm.