Rare tornado warning in place with ‘once in 100-years’ Storm Eowyn set to hit UK

The UK is bracing for a severe storm that is expected to bring tornados and 125mph winds.

Forecasters have now described Storm Eowyn as a one in a hundred year event after upgrading their weather warnings to cover the entire British Isles.

The whole country is under a yellow warning wind while the Republic of Ireland, large swathes of Scotland and northern England, and north Wales are under an amber alert.

People living between London and Bristol are also being warned that tornados may form, according to the European Storm Forecast Experiment, which issued a level one warning for southern England and Wales.

A level one tornado warning has also been issued for wider areas of southern England and much of Wales, where there is a lower but still possible chance of a tornado forming.

Meteorologists have warned that Storm Eowyn could bring ‘off-the-scale winds’ and has the potential to become a ‘one-in-100-year’ storm. The worst of the winds are expected to hit on Friday, with gusts of up to 90mph forecast in parts of the UK and speeds of up to 125mph near coastal areas of Ireland.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather alert in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, north Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of Scotland, warning of ‘danger to life’ conditions and disruption to travel.

‘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,’ it said.

Network Rail has advised passengers not to travel on Friday, warning that trains could be cancelled at very short notice with ‘onward connection not possible’.

The transport firm also warned that winds may be so severe in some places that not even replacement buses will be available.

Oli Claydon, of the Met Office, said: ‘We don’t need to look that far back to see similar strength winds, with Storm Darroch just a few weeks ago. And while most people don’t know the [Beaufort] scale, the gusts do fall in the hurricane speed category.

‘Certainly, winds of this strength, especially in the amber warning areas, have potential for disruptions and danger to life.’

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The Met Office warnings show high winds will impact all of the country, so it’s vital people plan ahead if they have to travel, particularly in the areas in south and central Scotland covered by the amber warning.’

The storm is expected undergo explosive cyclogenesis – a term more commonly known as a ‘weather bomb’ – in the Atlantic on Thursday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: ‘Storm Éowyn is expected to bring very strong winds and widespread disruption on Friday.

‘There are currently a number of weather warnings in place, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.

‘Storm Éowyn is expected to cross Northern Ireland early on Friday morning. It will then continue northeast across the northern half of Scotland during Friday afternoon and is expected to be centred near Shetland during Friday evening.

‘The strongest wind gusts are likely to be felt across parts of Northern Ireland, southern and central Scotland, northern England and northwest Wales, where exposed sites could get gusts in excess of 80mph, possibly 90mph, which has the potential to cause impacts for those in these areas.

‘The focus for the highest winds shifts to Scotland on Friday night into Saturday.

‘An Amber weather warning for wind has been issued and covers Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and northern England for most of the day on Friday before winds gradually ease later in the day.’

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