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Storm Éowyn hits UK and Ireland with 114mph winds and power outages

Red weather warnings are in effect as Storm Éowyn impacts the UK, urging millions to stay indoors. Northern Ireland and Scotland are facing the brunt of the storm, with red warnings indicating a danger to life due to high winds. Wind gusts have reached up to 93mph in Aberdaron, north Wales, and the Republic of Ireland recorded its strongest winds ever, leading to over 700,000 properties losing power. Schools in Northern Ireland and central Scotland are closed, and transportation services, including flights, buses, and trains, have been canceled.

The UK is under various weather warnings, including amber and yellow for wind, rain, snow, and ice. The red warning, the most severe, covers all of Northern Ireland and Scotland's central belt, affecting major cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. The aviation sector is also impacted, with around 1,070 flights canceled. The storm has caused widespread disruption, including power outages and the suspension of rail services in the worst-hit areas. Network Rail has halted trains in Scotland and parts of England, citing the extreme weather conditions.

In Northern Ireland, power outages affect over 93,000 properties, and all bus and train services are suspended. Tesco has closed all its stores in the region, and significant flight disruptions are reported. The storm is described as an "exceptional weather event," the strongest since 1998. The Republic of Ireland faces "hurricane force winds," with 715,000 premises without power. The Isle of Man is also under a red weather warning due to violent storm-force winds.

Storm Éowyn, pronounced AY-oh-win, is located northwest of Northern Ireland, bringing powerful winds to the west coast of the Republic of Ireland. A record gust of 114mph was recorded in County Galway. The storm is expected to move east, with red warnings in place for Scotland's central belt. The storm has led to power outages in Scotland and Wales and has disrupted rail services across Scotland. The AA has advised against unnecessary travel in red warning areas.

The storm is part of the season's fifth named storm, driven by a powerful jet stream over the Atlantic Ocean following a cold spell over North America. It underwent "explosive cyclogenesis," indicating a significant deepening of pressure and signaling extreme winds. The phenomenon of a "stingjet" could also be contributing to the severe wind speeds experienced, particularly along Ireland's west coast.

Source: BBC

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