Power goes out as Britain is battered by 100mph winds

‘Once in a generation’ Storm Eowyn causes travel chaos

- HOLLY EVANS

Storm Eowyn hit Britain and Ireland yesterday with “once in a generation” hurricane-force winds, forcing the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights and leaving 600,000 homes and businesses without power as forecasters warn more is to come.

Residents in the worst-affected regions have described “crazy” weather conditions, as trees were felled, public transport was brought to a halt and high winds turned everyday objects into dangerous missiles. In County Donegal, a man died after a tree fell on his car.

The Met Office issued a rare red warning in Scotland, with people urged to remain indoors as the severe weather posed a potential danger to life. A gust of 100mph was recorded at Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire early yesterday afternoon, while in Ireland records were broken after winds reached 114mph, with almost 1 million properties left without power.

Meanwhile, trains and ferries were suspended across Scotland and hundreds of schools were shut, with vehicles blown over and roads closed in some areas due to debris. Severe weather conditions are set to continue over the weekend, with an amber weather warning in place today and further travel disruption expected.

BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston described Storm Eowyn as a “once in a generation” weather event, while Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill said the region was currently “in the eye of the storm”. A feature of the storm is “sting jets” (very intense winds, often 100mph or more), which are caused by rapidly deepening areas of low pressure.