The weatherfront set to batter the UK with 90mph winds, heavy rain, and snow showers has officially been named. The Met Office has issued a warning over Storm Éowyn, which is set to hit our shores on Friday, January 24.
The national forecaster has issued three “danger to life” yellow alerts from midnight into Friday, January 24, until 3pm on Saturday, January 25. Storm Éowyn is being pushed towards Britain by an by a powerful jet stream in the Atlantic, which was fuelled by the recent cold snap in North America that has forced Donald Trump’s inauguration to be moved indoors.
The first two weather warnings between them cover the entirity of Scotland for all of Friday. The first warning covers the north of Scotland, anywhere above Dundee on the east coast and Oban on the west coast, stretching as far as Shetland.
The second warning includes the southern half of Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland, the north of England, and the west coast of Wales. The Met Office predicts “very strong winds” throughout Friday, with gusts of 60-70mph for much of southern Scotland and 80-90mph for coastal and raised regions.
Most areas within the northerthly warning zone can expect winds of 50-60mph, with peaks of 60-70mph for most of the coast, though the more exposed areas in western Scotland may also see 80mph gusts.
The forecaster says there is a “danger to life” from falling debris and from giant waves throughout Storm Éowyn. There is expected to be delays and cancellations on roads and railways, with air and ferry travel also likely to be impacted.
On Saturday, a third alert has been issued that covers all of Scotland. The strongest winds are expected to be 70-80mph across Orkney and Shetland. As with the Friday warnings, there is a danger to life and a chance of injuries, as well as travel delays and potential pwer cuts.
The rapidly intensifying low-pressure system is expected to usher in powerful winds, heavy downpours, and snow as it reaches our shores. Maps from WX Charts, modelled using Met Desk data, show Storm Éowyn pushing up into Scotland from Wales and Ireland early on Friday.
The huge band of snow will continue to move up from the south west, covering much of Scotland by morning. The white stuff is expected across Stirling, Angus, and the Central Highlands, with the heaviest snow likely to hit Perthshire.
Flurries are also expected in the Borders and on the west coast, as well as across some of the Inner and Outer Hebrides. As the day goes on, the Central and West Highlands will be the worst affected. Into Saturday, rates of up to 3cm of snow per hour are expected across the country.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Almond from the Met Office said: “A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday. Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
“The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week. We have issued a Yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.
“As the low develops over the Atlantic and interacts with the jet stream it will rapidly strengthen, a phenomenon called ‘explosive cyclogenesis’, where the central pressure of a low at latitudes in which the UK lies drops 24 millibars or more in 24 hours. This is forecast to happen on Thursday while the system is out over the Atlantic and it will be a mature feature by the time it reaches the UK.”
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