Buses and trains cancelled, schools to close as red weather warning issued

The warning will be in effect from 07:00 until 14:00 GMT on Friday.

It is the first time that a red warning has been issued for Northern Ireland since the Met Office moved to impact-based warnings in 2011.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.

“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”

The Met Office advises that people should expect:

• Flying debris resulting in danger to life
• Large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes
• Very dangerous driving conditions with fallen trees on roads
• Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down
• Roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

All schools in Northern Ireland have been advised to close on Friday amid the warnings of "very dangerous conditions" and "widespread disruption".

Education Minister Paul Givan said: “A red weather warning has been issued for Storm Éowyn and the Education Authority has advised that all schools should close tomorrow.

“I understand this will impact on the work of schools and indeed on other businesses and services, but the decision has been taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children and young people as well as staff. Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home.”

Due to the red weather warning in place for Storm Éowyn and the advice to avoid travel, Translink has announced there will be no bus or train services operating on Friday morning, 24th January and while the red status is in place.

Translink’s Director of Service Operations, Ian Campbell, said: “We have worked closely with the multiple emergency planning agencies, and this decision to cancel services is necessary to ensure the safety of all our customers and employees.

“Amber alerts for strong winds are also in effect for most of tomorrow which will likely impact services even after the red alert ends. We will be working collaboratively with all agencies to assess any damage to both road and rail routes and only resume services when it is safe to do so.

“There is likely to be fallen trees and extensive debris that will need to be cleared, and bus and train services may need to operate with speed restrictions or operate diversions for bus services if roads are impassable.

“We are urging passengers to check the Translink Journey Planner, website Weather Warning or social media channels for the latest updates in advance of travel.

“Customers with bookings for cancelled services will be automatically refunded.

“We would like to thank all our passengers and staff for their support and patience during these very difficult conditions to ensure everyone’s safety”.

An amber warning is also in place from 06:00 until 21:00 on Friday and a yellow warning from 00:00 to 23.59 on Friday.

The Met Office say that winds in Northern Ireland will pick up from early morning on Friday.

As the weekend progresses there may be a slight reduction in wind strength for a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead, before winds rapidly increase again. The strong winds will ease from later on Friday.

Northern Ireland’s strongest ever gust was recorded at 124mph in Kilkeel on January 12, 1974.

The whole of the Republic of Ireland is also under a red warning, which was issued on Wednesday, with Met Éireann warning people of a “danger to life”.