Storm Éowyn Causes Widespread Disruption Across the UK and Ireland
On Friday evening, Ireland was still grappling with the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, as 625,000 homes and businesses remained without power. The country’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB) warned that it would take "a significant number of days" to restore power fully. In addition, approximately 138,000 people were without water, a number likely to rise due to power outages affecting treatment plants and pumping stations.
Northern Ireland, Scotland, and parts of northwest England also experienced significant power outages. Around 214,000 properties in Northern Ireland, 106,000 in Scotland, and 20,000 in north-west England were still without electricity. Northern Ireland Electricity stated that it could take up to 10 days to reconnect all affected customers.
The damage caused by the storm was extensive, with over 1,800 fallen trees, branches, and other debris blocking roads. The infrastructure department mentioned that it would take days to assess the full extent of the damage.
Impact on Schools and Infrastructure
In Northern Ireland, 60 schools reported significant damage to buildings, leaving authorities to determine which ones would be unable to reopen on Monday. Although the strongest winds had passed, gusts of more than 80mph (128km/h) were still expected across Scotland and Northern Ireland’s coastlines and hills.
ScotRail confirmed that engineers would work overnight to clear debris from tracks, but warned that "extensive damage to overhead lines" would need to be repaired before services could resume. It was expected that trains would be heavily impacted on Saturday, and passengers were advised to refrain from traveling before 12:00 GMT.
Airport and Ferry Disruptions
At Edinburgh Airport, operations continued under "challenging conditions" on Saturday, with the disruptions from Friday expected to cause ongoing delays in the coming days. Glasgow and Belfast International Airports also urged passengers to check the latest travel information with their airlines before heading to the airports.
On Scotland’s west coast, ferry services, primarily operated by CalMac, faced disruptions, though the majority of ferry crossings in the Irish Sea, including those by Irish Ferries and Stena Line, were gradually returning to normal after Friday’s cancellations.
National Rail services in northern England were also affected by the storm's heavy winds and rain, with some services remaining disrupted into Saturday. Travelers using Avanti West Coast were advised not to travel north of Preston, and those traveling with LNER should avoid traveling north of York.
Personal Accounts of the Storm's Impact
Mark Jones, a resident of Coldingham in the Scottish Borders, described Storm Éowyn’s impact on his area as "like an earthquake." He recalled watching as his corrugated iron carport was lifted from the ground and tipped into a nearby woodland. "I didn’t feel seriously alarmed because there was about 30ft between me and the carport, but it just lifted up quite steadily and tilted over," Jones said. He felt that the word "storm" didn’t adequately describe the intensity of the weather, suggesting that only a hurricane could have caused such devastation.
In Cardross, on the north side of the Firth of Clyde, electrician Liam Downs shared his experience of the storm. He had been driving along the coast, helping the local community by removing fallen trees from roads. "In about 10 minutes, I saw around 10 trees fall, completely blocking us in the one-way road," he explained. At one point, while driving along the coast, waves surged up onto the road, forcing his van onto the curb, but fortunately, the van was large enough to avoid being overturned.
Ongoing Weather Warnings
As the storm continued to impact parts of the UK, six weather warnings remained in place. A yellow warning for wind was issued across most of Scotland, while warnings for snow and ice affected much of Scotland and Northern Ireland. There were also yellow warnings for ice in the Midlands, south-east England, and Wales, with the risk extending into the weekend.
Further warnings for wind were issued for parts of south-east and south-west England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and south-west Scotland on Sunday. A yellow warning for rain was also in effect for Wales, southern England, and the Midlands from Sunday morning through Monday.
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for areas such as Britford in Salisbury and parts of the River Till on Salisbury Plain. There were also less severe flood alerts for towns like Gloucester, Reading, and Luton, as well as areas along the southern coast.
In Scotland, flood warnings were in place for towns like Ayr and Troon, areas along the River Earn near Perth, and the Churchill Barriers in the Orkney Islands. Additional flood alerts were issued for the western coast of Scotland.
Response from Natural Resources Wales
In Wales, Natural Resources Wales issued flood alerts for areas around the River Dee near Wrexham and the town of Pwllheli. As the storm continued to move through the UK, authorities remained on high alert, urging residents to stay updated on changing weather conditions and to take necessary precautions.
Conclusion
Storm Éowyn has left a trail of destruction across the UK and Ireland, with power outages, transportation disruptions, and extensive damage to infrastructure. As recovery efforts continue, authorities are working around the clock to clear debris and restore essential services. The storm’s long-term impact is expected to be felt for days to come, with many regions still grappling with the aftermath. As the weather conditions stabilize, communities across the affected areas are coming together to support one another during this challenging time.
With additional reports coming in, the situation is expected to improve gradually, but the damage caused by Storm Éowyn will serve as a reminder of the destructive power of extreme weather.