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Weather warnings have been extended through until Tuesday as a frosty blast named Storm Herminia by European meteorlogists strikes parts of the UK, in the wake of Storm Eowyn’s record-breaking wind speeds.
Travel chaos continued on Saturday, with flights, trains and ferries cancelled, after winds reaching 100mph caused widespread disruption and widespread damage to rail networks. At least 1,070 flights were axed and 150,000 air passengers affected.
Snow and ice warnings were in force on Sunday morning across Northern Ireland and nearly all of mainland Scotland, with a wind alert in the Highlands and Hebrides in place until 7pm.
The Environment Agency has issued more than 30 flood alerts and a more severe flood warning in England, as forecasters warn of up to 80mm of rain.
The storm has also caused widespread damage to the electricity network, with one million people left without power across the UK and Ireland, after wind speeds topped 114mph in Co Galway, beating the country’s previous record of 113mph set in 1945.
A 20-year-old man in Ireland became the first confirmed storm-related death after a tree fell on his car at 5:30am at Feddyglass in Raphoe.
Storm Herminia, as it is being dubbed by Spanish meteorologists, is forecast to hit the south west of England and Wales first and then move into Northern Ireland and northern England on Sunday afternoon, reaching parts of Scotland by the evening.
Met Office forecaster Jonathan Vautrey said: “This is certainly going to be a notch down compared to Eowyn, whilst there is the potential for 60 to 70mph gusts of wind across the very far south west generally, we’re not going to be seeing the same strengths of winds as we have seen over the last couple of days.”
However “there are a lot of sensitivities around” following Eowyn, he said.
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 09:37
According to yesterday’s weather extremes, published by the Met Office, Kinlochewe in the Highlands experienced more than 31mm of rain, while Benson in Oxfordshire saw temperatures drop as low as -3C.
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 09:18
Shahana Yasmin26 January 2025 09:00
Around 35,000 properties in Scotland were still without power on Saturday evening, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said.
Sunday will start “fine and dry” with a “decent amount of sunshine” in many parts of the country, meteorologists said.
But a new low-pressure system is moving in from the south west bringing further strong winds and heavy rain.
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 08:40
More strong winds and heavy rain are approaching the UK as Storm Eowyn dies down.
The last of Eowyn is pushing across the UK overnight and producing snow and ice warnings in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 08:19
A flurry of fresh weather warnings for snow, wind and rain were issued on Saturday as Storm Eowyn continues to batter the UK and Ireland.
Flights have been cancelled, major rail routes closed and ferry services axed again on Saturday after winds surpassing 100mph hit parts of Britain throughout Friday. Millions were left without power due to the vicious storm.
But the Met Office has now issued weather warnings through until Tuesday, with a new low-pressure system set to take hold over the weekend, moving in from the southwest as Storm Eowyn passes.
Alex Croft26 January 2025 08:00
Ahead of today’s Met Office warning for heavy rain across much of England and Wales, the Environment Agency has issued a total of 31 flood alerts in England, meaning fllooding is possible, and one more severe warning on Salisbury Plain, where flooding is expected.
No flood alerts have been issued by Natural Resource Wales.
(Environment Agency)
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 07:47
The Met Office has several weather warnings in force today.
In Wales, a warning for wind is in force from 10am until 7pm, while an overnight warning for snow and ice in Scotland is in effect until the same time.
A band warning of dangerous winds of up to 70mph down the west coast of England, Wales and southwestern Scotland is also in force until 5pm.
Much of southern England and Wales are also subject to a warning for rain, while those living southwest of Plymouth have been told to brace for powerful and potentially disruptive winds until 11 am, with a fresh warning for wind again issued on Monday across the south coast until 6am on Tuesday
What are today’s weather warnings? (Met Office)
Andy Gregory26 January 2025 07:36
Alex Croft26 January 2025 07:00
The Met Office has extended its weather warnings into Tuesday, forecasting more snow, ice and powerful winds as parts of the UK reel from the damage left by Storm Eowyn.
Described by forecasters as probably the most powerful storm to hit the UK in at least a decade, Eowyn battered the country with hurricane-force winds of up to 100mph which tore roofs from buildings, uprooted trees, overturned cars, and left 1 million people without power on Friday.
Shahana Yasmin26 January 2025 06:40