Storm Éowyn, our fifth storm of the season, was named by the Met Office this morning and is forecast to bring gusts between 90 and 100mph across parts of the UK throughout Friday.
So when will the storm arrive and how bad is it expected to be?
Winds will start to freshen across western parts overnight Thursday into Friday, quickly spreading to all areas and accompanied by a band of heavy rain that sweeps eastwards across the UK. Gales are currently expected to be at their most damaging across western areas with peak winds expected around the middle of the day. Weather warnings for wind will cover much of the UK from 00:00 Friday. As this story develops, those warning areas may well be extended and escalated.Snow is likely along the leading edge of the rain band with snow warnings possible across Northern Ireland, northern England and across Scotland with warnings for this possible too.
Heavy rain across the UK will cause difficult driving conditions with the risk of localised flooding. It is worth remembering that as details of the track of the storm become clearer over the next couple of days, the areas which are likely to see the highest impact may alter.
Staying up-to-date with the very latest forecast will help you prepare for what is expected where you live. The Met Office warning contains the following details:
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Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, could happen;
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Power cuts are likely to occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage;
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Road, rail, air and ferry services are likely to be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible;
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Some roads and bridges may close;
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Injuries and danger to life could occur from flying debris, as well as large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties.
Why is it suddenly becoming so stormy?
The culprit for the stormy weather that’s moving originates thousands of miles away across the Atlantic Ocean.
Arctic air has been flooding southwards across the USA over the last few days bringing more exceptionally cold air much further south across mainland America than usual.
That cold air is bumping up against the very warm air towards Mexico – and it’s that sharp contrast in temperature between those two airmasses that has the effect of supercharging the jet stream (a current of fast moving air that sits around 30,000ft above the Earth’s surface).
Speeds within the jet stream are expected to either meet or surpass previous records (around 250 knots).
The jet stream wind isn’t felt at surface level but it acts as a conveyor belt for weather systems.
The faster the jet stream, the more likely the UK is to experience very deep areas of low pressure – which in turn give us wet and windy weather.
In a nutshell, a supercharged jet stream means that UK storms are more likely!
What is explosive cyclogenesis?
Explosive cyclogenesis – sometimes informally known as ‘bombogenesis’ or a ‘weather bomb’ – is the name given to a rapidly deepening area of low pressure – deepening at least 24 millibars in a 24-hour period – and is often associated with major winter storms.
How often does explosive cyclogenesis happen?
Probably only two or three times each winter but rarely so dramatically.
What’s unusual about it happening later this week?
The historically fast jet stream is going to supercharge the weather systems that roar across the UK towards the end of this week.
It’s the power in that jet stream that will cause the explosive cyclogenesis to be significantly faster and deeper than we would normally see, leading to unusually strong winds, heavy rain and also impactful snow for some northern areas too.
How long is this wet and windy weather likely to last?
The jet stream is expected to remain powered up until the end of the month – and in this environment, wet and windy weather is far more likely during this period. Further named storms during this period are possible.
How is Storm Éowyn likely to compare to previous storms?
Our last UK storm – Storm Darragh, which hit the UK in December 2024 – has a number of similarities to what we’re expecting from Storm Éowyn.
A red warning was issued as winds gusted to 96mph in the Bristol Channel area. Accompanying heavy rain caused very significant localised impacts and thousands were left without power.
-Should I change my plans on Friday?
With wide ranging impacts expected from the severe weather, it would be highly advisable to only make essential trips.
The Met Office gives the following advice to prepare for a storm:
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Be prepared, stay safe and protect property;
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Make sure you know what to do.
Before the storm
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Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing and break them;
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Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the house, and especially large doors such as those on garages;
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Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences;
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Close and secure loft trapdoors with bolts, particularly if roof pitch is less than 30°;
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If the house is fitted with storm shutters over the windows then ensure that these are closed and fastened;
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If chimney stacks are tall and in poor condition, move beds away from areas directly below them.
During the storm
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Stay indoors as much as possible;
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If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees;
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Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences – if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side;
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Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress;
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If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you;
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Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you;
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Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible;
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Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle;
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Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary.
After the storm
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Be careful not to touch any electrical/telephone cables that have been blown down or are still hanging;
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Do not walk too close to walls, buildings and trees as they could have been weakened;
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Make sure that any vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and help them make arrangements for any repairs.
Weather warnings are likely to be extended and upgraded over the coming days and you are strongly advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts.
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