Ireland

Storm Éowyn: How serious is a red weather warning, and how should I prepare?

Storm is set to be ‘dangerous, destructive and among the most severe storms Ireland has ever seen’

Storm Éowyn: A map shows forecast winds at 2pm on Friday. Image: Windy.com
Storm Éowyn: A map shows forecast winds at 2pm on Friday. Image: Windy.com
Sorcha Pollak's picture
Sorcha Pollak
Wed Jan 22 2025 - 20:10

How serious is this red weather warning?

Storm Éowyn, which will hit Ireland in the early hours of Friday morning, is set to be “dangerous, destructive” and among the most severe storms Ireland has ever seen”, the chair of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) has said.

“It will be a rare event, at the extreme end of the storms Ireland faces,” NECG chair Keith Leonard said on Wednesday after Met Éireann issued status red weather warnings for every county in the State.

There will be “widespread destruction, damage to structures” and “exceptional wind speeds across the country”, Mr Leonard told The Irish Times. “I think this will be a very severe and hopefully a very rare event.”

Members of the public are strongly advised to stay indoors and shelter until the storm has passed, he added.

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Met Éireann previously issued red weather warnings for the entire country during Storm Emma in 2018 and Storm Ophelia in 2017. Mr Leonard said he expected the damage on Friday to be similar to or even exceed that experienced in October 2017 when 385,000 homes and businesses lost power during Storm Ophelia.

The red weather warnings will remain in place until 10am and 12pm on Friday for most of the country. However, in Donegal the red wind warning will be valid until 3pm on Friday.

What should I do to prepare for the storm?

Met Éireann has advised people to “take action to protect themselves and their properties”, and to stay indoors until the red weather warning ends. Forecaster Elizabeth Coleman also urged members of the public to use Thursday to take the necessary measures to protect their properties. “Some of the wind speeds we’re expecting are at the most extreme levels we’ve ever seen.”

Are all schools and crèches closing?

Schools, early learning and childcare facilities and third-level education institutions are to close across the country on Friday. Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said education institutions looked set to close for the full day due to uncertainty over potential damage, electricity supply and access to transport.

Is it too dangerous to drive in this weather?

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has urged people to “avoid any travel” on Friday morning during the “unprecedented and life-threatening Storm Éowyn”. This is not a typical weather event and has the potential to be “a significant and historic storm” which poses a serious risk to life, it said.

Road-users must continue taking extra care even when the worst of the storm has passed as they may have to contend with flooding, debris and hazardous conditions, said the RSA.

The RNLI also advised people to “exercise extreme caution” near exposed cliffs, seafronts, piers and waterway paths, and to keep a safe distance from the sea.

What about work and travel?

Employers have been told they should facilitate working from home for all employees who can do so, with only emergency service workers leaving home for work if necessary.

Business lobby group Ibec said it was “critical” for organisations to clarify their plan to employees for work during the extreme weather event as early as possible, and to keep managers “urgently informed” of the situation.

An Irish Rail spokesman said he expected there would be “major disruptions” to rail services on Friday, and that details of cancellations across all transport services would be confirmed by the National Transport Authority on Thursday morning.

A spokesman for DAA, the Dublin Airport management company, advised passengers due to travel on Friday to contact their airline for updates. Cork Airport has also advised its customers to contact airlines for updates.