Storm Eowyn wreaked havoc across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland on January 24, killing one person and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. This powerful storm, which brought record-breaking winds, also caused severe travel disruptions, school closures, and extensive damage to infrastructure.
Ireland’s Strongest Winds Ever Recorded
Storm Eowyn brought wind gusts that reached an unprecedented 183 kilometers per hour in Ireland, breaking an 80-year-old record for the country’s strongest wind gusts. Tragically, the storm claimed the life of one person in Ireland when a tree fell onto their car. The storm also uprooted trees, blocked roads, and caused widespread damage, including the destruction of sports facilities like an ice-skating rink near Dublin and a major indoor games center in County Mayo.
Widespread Disruptions
As the storm moved through the region, over 700,000 homes and businesses in Ireland lost power, while 93,000 homes in Northern Ireland and 22,000 in Scotland were also affected. In addition to power outages, major disruptions included airport cancellations (with Dublin Airport reporting over 230 flight cancellations) and the suspension of ferry services and train operations across the affected areas.
Schools were closed, and authorities urged people to avoid travel for safety reasons. Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, emphasized the importance of staying home: “It is so important that people follow advice not to travel because if people stay at home, they don’t invite that risk to themselves.”
Rare Weather Phenomenon: Sting Jet
The UK’s Met Office reported the formation of a rare weather phenomenon called a sting jet, which resulted in intense wind gusts of over 160 kilometers per hour, similar to the 1987 “Great Storm” in England.
Although the highest red weather warnings have since been lifted in Ireland and Scotland, officials continue to advise caution as the aftermath of the storm continues to cause challenges in recovery efforts.
Emergency Alerts and Future Flood Risks
Emergency alerts were sent to around 4.5 million people across the UK in the lead-up to the storm, marking the largest deployment of the alert system to date. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has issued warnings for potential flooding in southern and central England in the coming days.
Scientists have linked stronger storms to human-driven climate change, though no direct link has been confirmed between Storm Eowyn and this phenomenon.
