Horror scenes across UK as 120MPH blasts - 4 dead and mass destruction | Weather | News | Express.co.uk

2022-05-27 22:02:40 By : Ms. Juccy Tan

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One motorist died when a tree hit his car in East Hampshire, another passenger died in similar circumstances in North London, one man was killed after debris hit his car windscreen in Merseyside and a Brit in Belgium has died too. The Met Office recorded gusts of 122mph at the Needles on the Isle of White this morning "provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England". Although the forecaster notes this is an "exposed" area. A picture has even emerged this morning of a roof of a house blocking a road in Wales after being dislodged by the strong winds. 

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After StormEunice, there will be disruption to some services this morning, stated South Eastern Railways. 

The Maidstone East and Hastings Lines are partially closed.

Some lines will have early morning trains cancelled to allow safety checks to be carried out.

Several reports suggest that the storm Eunice is wreaking havoc in Ireland where several accidents have been reported due to snow and wind affecting the north of the country.

The Met office have issued a yellow weather warning for ice for north west England, most of Scotland and Northern Ireland and has forecast more snow after the UK was enveloped in the throes of Storm Eunice yesterday.

Manchester could be hit by more harsh weather as the fallout from Storm Eunice continues to batter the country. The weather warning will be in place until 9am Saturday, with the combination of wintry showers and cold temperatures overnight likely to lead to icy conditions.

The Met Office forecasts a 70 percent chance of sleet in the Manchester area at midday on Saturday.

The forecast predicts “heavy rain and hill snow sweeping across most of the region through the day”, with a maximum temperature of 8C.

Four people are now confirmed to have died across the UK and Ireland during Storm Eunice.

A woman in her 30s died after a tree fell on a car in Haringey, north London, on Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said. It was the first confirmed death in England related to Eunice.

A man in his 50s died in Netherton, Merseyside, after debris struck the windscreen of a vehicle he was travelling in.

More windy weather on Saturday could hamper clear-up efforts in the aftermath of Storm Eunice, the Met Office has said.

While gusts are not forecast to be as strong as Friday’s, their timing after what is expected to be a major storm might cause issues, the forecaster warned.

A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for 6am on Saturday until 6pm, affecting the south and south west coast of England, Herefordshire and much of Wales.

The Millennium Dome roof has been destroyed due to the torrential weather conditions caused by Storm Eunice.

Storm Eunice caused power prices to plunge after record-breaking gusts created some of the highest-ever output from wind turbines on Friday, a news report has claimed.

Day-ahead UK power dropped by 11 percent to £140 per megawatt-hour (MWh) following the surge in wholesale gas prices in recent months, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper also reported that wind power has significantly outpaced gas over the past week with turbine energy generation averaging 11.48 gigawatts, well above the 7.2GW for gas.

A28 has been closed due to fallen tree from B2088 Rye Road to New Road.

A270 Old Shoreham Road Eastbound has been closed due to fallen tree between A27 Shoreham By-Pass (Southwick/Holmbush turn off) and Southwick Street.

A275 in both directions has been closed due to fallen tree and fallen power cables from Markstakes Lane to Cinder Hill.

An ambulance rushing a baby girl to hospital in Aberdeenshire was rescued by members of the public after it became stuck in heavy snow.

Ten-month-old Jessica Louise Macleod, who spent the first six months of her life in hospital with a congenital heart defect, became ill after developing breathing difficulties on Friday.

The ambulance became stuck in snow as it tried to reach a hospital in Aberdeen.

StormEunice brought rain, snow and dangerously high winds to the UK on Friday

According to the Met Office, the Needles on the Isle of Wight recorded a provisional record gust for England at 122 mph

A 59-year-old Wexford County Council employee was killed while clearing fallen debris from Storm Eunice on Friday.

In a statement Wexford County Council said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee’s family, work colleagues and friends at this very difficult time."

The Met Office's forecast for Saturday morning shows Storm Eunice leaving the UK and heading towards mainland Europe.

#Saturday morning will be a #cold start in the north with a risk of some icy patches Remaining #windy in the south with a band of #rain spreading eastwards. This could fall as sleet and #snow over higher ground across north Wales and northern parts of the Midlands pic.twitter.com/vpJRWvzD5g

Dan Norris, West of England Metro Mayor, has promised to plant three trees for everyone who dies because of Storm Eunice.

He said: "The West of England will need more trees if we are to reach our ambitious target of net-zero carbon by 2030.

"While Storm Eunice has caused misery and disruption to daily life, if it can be used as a springboard to get more trees in our region, that would bring a silver lining to its dark storm clouds."

Watch the terrifying moment a lorry on the M4 in Wales was blown over by Storm Eunice.

The HGV was one of two lorries to get toppled by strong winds on the westbound carriageway of the motorway between Porthcawl and Margam this morning.

Traffic was being held on the motorway between Porthcawl and Margam as emergency services rescued the lorries. 

Passengers aboard a Ryanair flight from Fuerteventura to Manchester had a shocking journey as they diverted to Bordeaux in France, 850 miles away, due to Storm Eunice.

Manchester Airport cancelled 46 flights in total, both outbound and inbound.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium said at least 436 flights due to take off or land at UK airports were cancelled on Friday.

They said Heathrow suffered the worst flight disruption, with a fifth of all flights cancelled.

A flight from Italy due to land at London Stansted Airport today has been forced to divert over 700 miles to Norway because of the ongoing chaos caused by Storm Eunice.

This huge diversion has caused outrage.

One Twitter user said: “What happens then? What if people don't have the necessary documents to enter a country they weren't expecting to be in?!”

One added: “Surprised it had the fuel to make it!” Another said: “This weather has made flying a bit of a lottery. ’Today folks, we are landing in… Oslo! Congratulations and you're free to start booking not-free tickets for your flight to London.’”

A woman in her thirties has died after a tree fell on a car in Haringey from Storm Eunice.

Police were called to Muswell Hill Road at around 4pm to find that the passenger of the car had died at the scene.

It was the first confirmed death in England related to Eunice.

The driver was injured but luckily his condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

Footage shows the tree above the gold Citroen Picasso on Hornchurch Road in Plymouth swaying in the wind and eventually hitting a car, narrowly missing a moving van.

The tree lands on top of the vehicle, crushing it, and then bouncing into the road.

The windows of the car were smashed and the front of the vehicle caved in.

A reporter at the scene described the scene as "scary" and identified a baby seat in the back of the car.

But luckily no-one was in the car at the time of the impact.

A man in his 50s has died after debris struck a van windscreen in Merseyside.

Police say the passenger, a man in his 50s, was was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The van driver, another man, was not injured.

A woman in her 30s has been struck by a tree in Haringey, north London.

Officers were called shortly after 4pm to reports of a tree falling on a car in Muswell Hill Road, Haringey and the passenger in the car was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver has been taken to hospital.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the woman who tragically lost her life and the man who was seriously injured in Highgate this afternoon.

"I’d like to pay tribute to all those in the emergency services who have been working tirelessly to keep us safe and urge all Londoners to remain cautious and avoid taking risks as this storm passes.”

The iconic cartwheeling boy statue in Reading that was a gift from the people of Dusseldorf, has been knocked over by the Storm Eunice winds.

A Reading Borough Council spokesman said: "Sadly the Cartwheeling Boy statue has been damaged in the storm. We have collected it and will assess how it can be restored."

I know there are bigger priorities, but in the 75th anniversary year of the friendship between Reading and D\u00fcsseldorf, I hope @ReadingCouncil can find a way of repairing or replacing the cartwheeling boys statue by the magistrates court in #rdguk. @RDGDUSassoc @livingreading pic.twitter.com/pasIfDAZvl

A driver in Hampshire has become the second person to die after his car was crushed by a tree in Alton Hampshire.

An anonymous eyewitness told The Mirror: "I was walking down the road when I came across the tree and I had to climb across it to get past it.

"At this point I couldn't see anything so I was just climbing.

"When I climbed over it I saw this white pick-up truck out of the corner of my eye.

"I thought to myself 'oh my Christ there is a car under there' and I looked and saw the man in the cab.

"The tree was across his cab, they were big, thick branches. The tree dented the vehicle, the roof of the cab was all dented in and the door was all dented in too.

"I could not believe it."

The Port of Dover has reopened to shipping and some ferry services after closing earlier today.

The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge over the River Severn has reopened, but the M48 Severn Bridge crossing remains closed.

A spokesman for the Severn Crossings said: “This bridge requires a more detailed inspection than its newer counterpart and we still require wind speeds to drop further before this can be done."

A 79-year-old British man died in the Belgian town of Ypres after being pushed from his boat by the strong winds of Storm Eunice, this afternoon.

Reports say he was pulled from the water and taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

There has now been three deaths in the Netherlands due to falling trees and one man has died in Ireland during the storm.

Three people have been rushed to hospital this afternoon after a collision between a car and a fallen tree in Farleigh Wick, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. 

Avon and Somerset Police said the driver is in a serious condition and the road is expected to remain closed for several hours, so motorists should avoid the area.

All Avanti West Coast services are now cancelled for the rest of Friday 18 February. 

\u26a0\ufe0fDue to multiple weather-related incidents around the network, all Avanti West Coast services are now cancelled for the rest of Friday 18 February. Please do not come to the station. Tickets for Friday 18 February will be valid for Saturday 19, Sunday 20, Monday 21 February.

Martin, a train driver in Manchester, posted a picture of destruction in his garden from his neighbours roof.

I\u2019ve just gained part of my neighbours roof #StormEunice pic.twitter.com/50Wj2PTlCH

UK Power Networks are responding to disruption from Storm Eunice. There are around 168,000 customers off supply.

Large trees have been blown down in Surrey

Trees down in Surrey following #StormEunice @surreylive @BBCNews @BBCSurrey @SkyNews @itvnews @guardian @Independent pic.twitter.com/ADvSldSMYT

The video below is another severe example of why many services across Britain have been cancelled today.

Footage captured by Chiltern Railway shows why they've had to suspend services, as the roof of a building blew onto tracks at Banbury.

Miraculously, the driver and passenger have escaped with what are believed to be minor injuries.

The A6 is now closed.

Storm Eunice Update 1/3 Drivers of high-sided vehicles are being asked to avoid exposed routes in the county \u2013 in particular across the Peak District. The request comes after an articulated lorry was blown over on to a car on the #A6 just north of #Buxton at 2pm today... https://t.co/9GOctN3E2T

Due to a large number of trees falling on the railway, the entire Southeastern network is now closed - apart from a limited service between Ashford and London St Pancras International.

Southeastern have urged all passengers to not travel.

They said: "Trees are continuing to fall on our network and it's proving an immense challenge for Network Rail to find and remove them all.

"Southeastern can't guarantee that you'll be able to complete your journey and replacement transport is not available."

\u26a0\ufe0fUPDATE: \ud83d\ude84There is a limited train service St Pancras-Ashford \u274cThe rest of the Network remains closed due to a number of our incidents cause by #StormEunice \u23f0We've no estimate for any other lines reopening so we advise you Do Not Travel \u2139\ufe0f More info: https://t.co/tDNMiycINd pic.twitter.com/Pv97GJpiFB

One person was killed in Amsterdam after being hit by a falling tree.

Dutch authorities reported that parts of the roof of the ADO The Hague football club stadium were blown off as Storm Eunice begun battering the Netherlands.

Multiple residents on Twitter are reporting that Preston's train station roof has blown off. We will bring you the latest as this develops. 

PRESTON station will be closed for the remainder of the day with no trains to run through the station https://t.co/RLvUjMPa6w

Grain Power Station near Rochester has lost a tower to the storm.

Uniper UK, which owns Grain Power Station said: "A weather-related incident has occurred at Grain power station, during storm Eunice.

"We can confirm that there are no casualties and there is no risk to the local community.

"However, it has caused some damage on site and the power station has been temporarily taken offline as a precaution."

The middle stack at Grain Power Station appears to have gone? Where there were three, there is now two! #StormEunice (Photo Credit: Katie Foord #Queenborough) pic.twitter.com/80Jg3q6IK8

The South Central Ambulance Service — which operates in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire — has declared a critical incident as a result of Storm Eunice.

In a statement on their website they said: "The Trust is seeing higher demand above what is normally expected at this time of year and patients are waiting longer due to the disruption to the regions road system through road, bridge and other closures impacting our response times."

Paul Jefferies, Assistant Director of Operations, said: “Declaring a critical incident allows us to seek further support from our partners, and alerts the wider healthcare system to our existing challenges brought about by Storm Eunice in reaching patients as quickly as we would like.

We will continue to focus on reaching those patients with life-threatening or serious injuries and illnesses first, and unfortunately there will be unavoidable delays in getting to those patients with less urgent needs for which we apologise in advance."

London Fire Brigade has estimated around 1,000 people were evacuated from The O2 in Greenwich, London, this afternoon when its roof was shredded in Friday's storm.

Station Commander Chris Kamara, who was at the scene, said: "Firefighters cordoned off the area to ensure no one was injured by any further falling debris. 

"There has been no actual collapse or structural damage to the building, but due to the nature of the canvas material which covers the O2, it has come loose in high winds and looks quite dramatic.

"Crews have made the scene safe and the O2 is now closed until further notice."

Firefighters have attended the #O2 this afternoon after the canvas roof came loose in high winds #StormEunice There has been no structural damage to the building https://t.co/jlCRgWEgSe pic.twitter.com/k1GyvcoCR5

The spire of a Grade II-listed church has toppled off in the Storm Eunice gales. 

The video shows the top section falling off the St Thomas's Church in Wells, Somerset. The church was built in the 1850s. 

@talkRADIO St Thomas church spire in Wells in Somerset has toppled\u2026.. pic.twitter.com/1lhVU6x1CW

Two people have been injured in London in London by falling debris. 

London Ambulance Service (LAS) confirmed two separate incidents. 

One man was taken to hospital after being injured by falling debris in Waterloo at around midday. 

LAS said he was "treated at the scene and taken to a hospital as a priority".

Another man was taken to hospital with a head injury after being struck by a tree in Streatham, south London.

The incident happened shortly before 11am.

Wexford County Council has issued a statement after a man was killed by a falling tree in Ireland. 

It said: "It is with deep regret and sadness that Wexford County Council confirms that one of our employees was fatally injured earlier today in a workplace accident."

A spokesperson added: "The accident occurred as the employee attended the scene of a fallen tree in the North Wexford area.

"The employee's family, An Garda Siochana and the Health and Safety Authority have been informed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the employee's family, work colleagues and friends at this very difficult time."

London's O2 Arena has been significantly damaged during the storm as parts have been "ripped off". 

Some of the white covering on the venue could be seen flapping in the strong winds in footage shared on social media.

The famous building, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, hosts major events including concerts and features restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema.

Witness Mala Sharman told the PA Agency "more and more parts are getting ripped off", adding "it's going to be a safety issue for people around".

Ms Sharma said it happened "right in front of my eyes" and that the damage "started off with a patch" but then a "chunk" of the dome roof ripped off.

Several houses have been damaged in Newport, Wales. Pictures show three roofs blown off by Storm Eunice this morning.

A red weather warning for wind was issued by the Met Office on the Welsh coast for most of this morning but has since been downgraded to an amber warning. 

Gwent Police tweeted: "Christchurch Road, Newport, is currently closed due to ongoing damage and debris on the road as a result of Storm Eunice. Please avoid the area if possible."

A man has been fatally injured by a falling tree in Ireland, according to RTE. 

It reports that the man was working to clear debris from the storm when the incident occurred in the Ballythomas area, close to the Wexford-Wicklow border. 

The man is reported to have been in his 50s. 

The incident is being investigated by gardai who say that the Health and Safety Authority will also be carrying out a full investigation.

A total of 436 flights were cancelled across the United Kingdom, according to Cirium data. 

Twenty percent of cancellations were to or from Heathrow, making it the hardest-hit Uk airport. 

This is followed by London City at 16 percent and Manchester at 10 percent.

Thames Valley Police said a member of the public sustained serious injuries when they were struck by "falling debris" in Henley-on-Thames.

The force tweeted: "A member of the public have been struck by falling debris from a roof in Station Road, Henley-on-Thames caused by #StormEunice.

"They have been taken to hospital with serious injuries by our colleagues from SCAS999."

Three men ignored safety warnings and went for a swim in the sea at New Brighton, Merseyside. 

The trio were spoken to by Coastguards who asked them to get out of the water.

Coastguard officers were stationed by the coast of the Wirral seaside resort on Friday and moved people off the promenade as the waves got higher after midday.

The car park by Fort Perch Rock was closed as the storm hit and roads in the town were closed.

Merseyside is subject to a Met Office amber warning for wind, which is in place until 6pm.

Southeastern rails are closing all of its mainline routes as they can't "guarantee that you'll be able to complete your journey". 

The service said there is disruption to "almost all lines" with at least 14 trees down and billboards on the track. 

The risk will be reassessed after 3 pm.

\u26a0\ufe0f The worst of the storm is reaching us and there is disruption on almost all lines with at least 14 trees down, along with this billboard at #ElephantandCastle. Do not travel. #StormEunice pic.twitter.com/BmYCJWs8E2

Thousand of people are tuning into a live stream of Heathrow as planes attempt to land in the wind. 

Jerry Dyer, who is running the stream on Big Jet TV told BBC Radio 2: "This is the best scenario you could possibly imagine - big kudos to the pilots and the crews working at the airports, this is the most exciting stuff you could possibly get.

"Right now, these conditions with 70mph gusting winds, it's pretty intense.

"And what is great is you get to see the skill of the pilot and how they manage to handle it."

Over 199,000 people are currently tuned into the feed.

London's O2 has been ripped open by the powerful winds.

Footage shared on social media showed the white dome of the O2 Arena in Greenwich being ripped open by the strong winds.

Parts of the fabric making up the protective layer could be seen flapping into the wind.

The damaged area affects what appears to be the southern side of the O2 Arena, which normally hosts thousands of concert attendees.

London is now facing the brunt of Storm Eunice as it travels across the UK. 

Southwark Police asked people to avoid Tower Bridge road due to fallen scaffolding. 

In Battersea, another tree has fallen causing delays for drivers. 

A red warning for wind is in place across the capital and southeast England until 3pm on Friday as the Met Office warns of "danger to life". 

Tree down in Battersea #StormEunice pic.twitter.com/9bKx0ze1Ht

Around 73,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power in Ireland as the storm continues to hit the UK. 

Brian Tapley, from ESB, said on Friday morning: "We will know the extent of the damage to our network probably by midday, because the storm is passing so quickly."

He told RTE radio that ESB workers would aim to "restore everyone as quickly as possible and safely as possible".

Red and orange storm warnings for parts of the country have now lapsed, although a yellow warning remains in place.

Gusts of up to 122mph have been recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, the Met Office confirmed. 

The forecaster said this is "provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England."

At Mumbles Head near Swansea, on the south Wales coast, gusts have reached 87mph, while at North Wyke near Dartmoor in Devon they have hit 82mph.

The Met Office notes that Needles is an exposed site.

Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders said the storm is "really packing a punch".

The wind is causing trees to fall across the country. 

In Bude Cornwall, onlookers were left shocked as footage shows the moment a massive tree split in the middle under the weight of the tree crown. 

Kai Wilson Page, who shared the video on social media, can be heard screaming: "Oh my God.

"Oh my God, I caught it on video."

Another person can be heard off-camera also shouting "oh my God."

A family car has been crushed by a falling tree in Plymouth.

Pictures show a gold Citroen Picasso underneath the tree with windows smashed and the rear of the vehicle caved in. 

Plymouth comes under the amber warning for wind from the Met Office. 

The warning includes a "good chance" of flying debris with a risk of "danger to life", as well as damage to buildings and homes and travel disruption.

Southeastern Railway are working to rescue passengers stranded on a train between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. 

A fallen tree is currently blocking the line disrupting several routes.

From 11am there will be no trains until at least 2pm between Tonbridge and Hastings and Folkestone Central to Ramsgate via Dover Priory. 

UPDATE: #StormEunice We're working on a plan to safely rescue passengers currently stranded on a train between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. Apologies for the continued delay, we will get you on the move ASAP.

The RAC said people are taking "the weather warnings seriously" and staying home. 

Director of central operations Matt Dallaway said people should only driver if "they absolutely have to". 

Anyone who does travel should be "vigilant" and "slow down" and "keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel".

Mr Dallaway said: "Early indications are that most people are taking the weather warnings seriously and not setting out.

"The fact many roads are so clear is a sign that today is not a safe day to be driving.

"Breakdown volumes are currently far lower than we'd expect for a half-term Friday, although the types of jobs our patrols are going to are very different. Fewer battery-related problems and an increase in people being caught out by flash floods and snow in the North."

A yellow warning for snow is in place across Scotland throughout Friday.

Footage shows heavy snowfall hitting after Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the storm "will bring risk of snow and strong winds across most of Scotland on Friday and danger of coastal flooding in south-west Scotland".

More than 20cm of snow is prediction on higher ground and 5cm elsewhere. 

Fifty trees have blown down in Surrey, according to AA president Edmund King. 

Mr King said: "We are still urging people to only travel when absolutely essential and most people are following our advice.

"Fifty trees have blown down in Surrey in the last two days even before this red warning has kicked in, fallen trees and falling debris are likely to bring a danger to life."

Trees have also fallen in Wales as Kerry County Council said crews have begun clearing routes. 

#StormEunice #Kerry Crews are beginning to clear fallen trees on many routes this morning Please avoid unnecessary travel until the Status Orange warning is lifted at 11am \ud83d\udcf2 Report issues 066 7183588 pic.twitter.com/B9DDcd9b0C

P&O Ferries has suspended all sailings between Dover and Calais and "strongly advised" people not to travel to the Port of Dover.

The operator said: "All services between Dover and Calais are suspended until further notice.

"We expect this to be the case for most of the day and we will provide further information when possible."

It comes as winds of up to 92 mph have been recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight this morning. 

At Mumbles Head near Swansea, on the South Wales coast, gusts have reached 87mph, while at St Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly they have hit 79mph.

The red weather warning has now come into place across London and the southeast of England. 

The Met Office issued the warning from 10am until 3pm on Friday warning of "danger to life".

The warning covers the east of England, London and the southeast of England and southwest England.

Strong winds could being 'flying debris', 'damage to buildings and homes', and cause travel delays, which we have already seen across the country this morning. 

Passengers on a flight from Bordeaux to Gatwick have endured a Storm Eunice nightmare as their plan failed to land in London twice.

According to reports, the pilots endured two failed landings at Gatwick Airport before going into a holding pattern over Sussex.

The Independent reports that passengers on the Easyjet Airbus were told: “We’re very sorry that your flight has now been diverted back to Bordeaux.

"This is due to poor weather conditions in London Gatwick, which are below safe operating limits."

The southwest of England and Welsh coasts are being battered by strong winds, causing huge waves. 

A rare red weather warning of wind is in place in the area until 12pm. 

Pictures show areas being drowned in seawater as the waves hit the shore.

The Met Office issued the warning due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge.

All flights in and out of London City Airport have been cancelled until 4.30 pm on Friday. 

A large number of flights have also been cancelled at Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport. 

Passengers travelling from Heathrow have been advised to double-check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

More than 80 British Airways flights have so far been cancelled from the two airports.

Customers flying from Gatwick and Stansted have also been warned of delays and cancellations.

Transport for London (TFL) has urged people to avoid non-essential travel in the capital. 

The storm is wreaking havoc on travel with trains cancelled, roads closed and traffic chaos. 

A spokeswoman for TFL asked those who need to travel to check before doing so. 

They said: "We are doing all we can to ensure we are prepared for any impact with extra staff ready to respond quickly to any incidents, but some services will be affected by the extreme weather.

"We are also urging Londoners to please take care if they travel around the city."

An emergency COBRA meeting will take place today as a Government minister warns there is a "risk to life and limb". 

Security Minister Damian Hinds said the Army is ready to deal with the storm. 

Mr Hinds told Sky News: "A red warning is what it says it is. It is a warning of danger. There is a risk to life and limb.

“But it is the weather, it is nature and… although we have much better forecasting and science… there is still quite an element of unpredictability.”

He added that the Government had a lot to learn after Storm Arwen which battered the UK in Novermber 2021. 

As we reported earlier, thousands are already without power in Ireland. 

You can find out if your area has been hit by outages here.

Storm Eunice has well and truly hit the UK with footage coming in of waves crashing against the Welsh and southwest coast.

A red weather warning for wind is in place across southwest England and Wales.

Footage below shows waves crashing over the pier in Porthcrawl, Wales.

Winds are expected to reach up to 90mph along the coast and 80pmh inland.

British Airways has cancelled "a number of flights" due to the weather. 

In a statement, the airline said safety is the "number one priority" as Storm Eunice hits the UK. 

It said: "Like other airlines, we're expecting extreme weather conditions at airports across the UK as a result of Storm Eunice, which will cause significant disruption.

"We're doing everything we can to minimise disruption for our customers, including putting on larger aircraft where possible and providing a range of flexible rebooking options.

"We'd like to thank customers for their patience and advise them to check the latest flight information on our website before heading to the airport."

Gatwick Airport has also warned of disruption, asking passengers to arrive earlier and check before they travel. 

Happy Friday! DM us for help with your journey today. \u26a0 Be advised that due to storm #Eunice, there may be disruption to flights, trains & the shuttle service. Please try to arrive earlier, take extra care and check with your travel providers for flight information \u26a0 pic.twitter.com/Tc97iM4Kb8

Strom Eunice isn't just bringing high winds but heavy snowfall to the north of the UK. 

A yellow warning for snow is in place until 6pm for north England and most of Scotland. 

The Met Office warns of travel delays, stranded vehicles and delayed or cancelled rail and air travel. 

The warning includes Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, southwest Scotland, Lothian Bords, Strathclyde and Yorkshire and Humber.

The warning also covers some areas in Northern Ireland.

Roads are "likely to close" across the UK as the storm causes "significant disruption" to travel. 

Ireland's National Emergency Co-ordination Group met on Thursday to finalise planning, with chairman Keith Leonard predicting a "high-impact, multi-hazard weather event".

They added it was likely there will be some fallen branches and uprooted trees on the road.

The Met Office warns there is a “chance of longer journey times” and services could be affected.

They added there was only a “chance” roads and bridges could close as a result of the wind.

The QEII Bridge was closed at 5am this morning throughout the day due to the winds.

Several roads in Scotland have also been closed including the M8 eastbound at junction five due to heavy snow. 

The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said more than 6,000 people were without power on Friday morning, predominantly in Cork and Kerry.

Schools and colleges across the country remain closed on Friday after a red wind warning was issued for Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford. 

Some snow has already been reported as an orange snow warning was issued for several counties in the north and west, including Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.

Ireland's National Emergency Co-ordination Group met on Thursday to finalise planning, with chairman Keith Leonard predicting a "high-impact, multi-hazard weather event".

Overnight a further red weather warning was issued for London and southeast England. 

The regions and local authorities affected: 

East of England: Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock

London & South East England: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham

South West England: Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, Wiltshire

Good morning I'm Francesca Edwards, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Storm Eunice for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email: francesca.edwards@reachplc.com

The Met Office has taken to Twitter to share yet another weather graphic with its 867,000 followers.

The update suggests wind gusts in the south west could reach 90mph and in on the coast around the English Channel could reach 80mph.

The post was accompanied by a caption which said: "Storm Eunice is going to bring damaging and disruptive winds for most of the UK today.

"See the latest Red Warnings for wind below and be aware of the wider Amber Warning area.

"Exposed coastal areas could get gusts in excess of 90mph."

\u26a0 #StormEunice is going to bring damaging and disruptive winds for most of the UK today. \ud83d\udd34 See the latest Red Warnings for wind below and be aware of the wider Amber Warning area. Exposed coastal areas could get gusts in excess of 90mph Latest \ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs pic.twitter.com/uQAeGfB3RK

Scott Duncan, a Scottish-born meteorologist based in London, took to social media to warn Brits against thinking the calm morning weather would remain in place for the rest of the day. 

Mr Duncan, who developed and no co-owns WXCHARTS, wrote on Twitter: "Chilling satellite imagery emerging as Storm Eunice approaches full fury.

"Red wind warnings now added to London & Southeast. This is the first red wind warning for London in this current warning system.

"Extremely rare and dangerous weather day incoming."

He added: "Don't be fooled if the weather is quiet and calm early this morning.

"This is the silence before the storm."

The Met Office has updated its red warning area to include the capital as Storm Eunice hits the UK.

London, the south east of England, south west of England and the east of England are now all said to be affected by the turbulent weather conditions. 

The Met Office said in its new update: "Extremely strong west to southwesterly winds will develop mid morning on Friday, transferring eastwards across southern and southeast England through the middle of the day then slowly easing from the west during the afternoon.

"Gusts of 60-70 mph are likely widely, perhaps briefly 80 mph in a few places, mainly on English Channel coasts."

They added flying debris could result in danger to life, there could be damage to buildings and homes, transport links could be affected, power cuts could impact other services and large waves and beach material could be thrown onto coastal roads, seafronts and homes.

\u26a0\ufe0f\u26a0\ufe0f\ud83d\udd34 Another Red Weather Warning Issued \ud83d\udd34\u26a0\ufe0f\u26a0\ufe0f Another Red Weather Warning has been issued for much of the south and southeast for #StormEunice. Latest info \ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Advice \ud83d\udc49 https://t.co/JFRa8CtfWY Stay #WeatherAware\u26a0\ufe0f pic.twitter.com/yXcegW7Mh5

Parts of England and Wales look set for a windy weekend as the Met Office puts out a yellow weather warning for Saturday.

The UK's national weather service said: "A short-lived area of strong winds looks likely to track quickly eastwards across southern parts of England and Wales on Saturday, accompanied by a spell of heavy rain.

"The strongest winds are expected through the Bristol Channel and along the south coast of England with gusts of 60 mph likely here, and 40 to 50 mph inland.

"The winds themselves could cause minor disruption; but given the expected impact from Storm Eunice on Friday, these conditions on Saturday may hamper any clear-up operations."

Areas affected in England include: Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Sussex, Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Torbay, Wiltshire, and Herefordshire.

In Wales, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan also look set to be affected.

England's Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Environment Protection Agency have put out over 270 flood warnings and alerts as Storm Eunice looks set to take a grip of the UK.

According to the most recent updates on the three separate websites, England has put out 10 severe flood warnings.

The warnings mean there is a "danger to life" in areas affected.

The River Severn appears to be particularly affected, including Hempsted and Epney.

England also has 26 flood warnings and an extra 91 flood alerts.

Standard warnings suggest flooding is expected.

Whereas, alerts mean flooding remains possible.

Scotland has a total of 10 standard warnings and four alerts.

In Wales, which in many places is separated from parts of England by the River Severn, there are a whopping 113 flood warnings and 22 alerts.

The Met Office has tweeted to update Brits about the strong winds set to hit the UK.

Writing on social media, the UK's national weather service said: "Storm Eunice will bring extremely strong and damaging winds to some areas on Friday morning.

"Further east it will be a wet and windy start with snow over the higher ground of northern areas, the winds will pick up through the morning.

"RED and AMBER Warnings are in force."

They added: "Damaging winds will strengthen through Friday for many areas.

"You may want to tie down loose outdoor objects before Storm Eunice arrives.

"Here's some advice on how to prepare and stay safe in a storm."

#StormEunice will bring extremely strong and damaging winds to some areas on #Friday morning Further east it will be a wet and windy start with snow over the higher ground of northern areas, the winds will pick up through the morning RED and AMBER Warnings are in force \u26a0\ufe0f pic.twitter.com/Aai81hhqlo

The Met Office has issued several weather warnings for the UK.

However, the UK's national weather service found conditions on Thursday were far more favourable.

in a post on social media, the Met Office said: "Thursday brought sunshine and blustery showers across the UK, some of them wintry in the north.

Temperatures in the Surrey village of Charlwood reached 13C but Scots in Kinbrace saw mercury dip to as low as 0C.

Boulmer in Northumberland had over seven hours of sunlight.

Whereas, 300-miles away in Kinlochewe, there were 20mm of rainfall. 

Thursday brought sunshine and blustery showers across the UK, some of them wintry in the north \ud83c\udf26\ufe0f\u2744\ufe0f Here are Thursday's extremes \ud83d\udc47 pic.twitter.com/ZJCsgis1i3

Good evening from London. I'm Jack Walters and I'll be bringing you all the latest developments on the storm for the next eight hours.

Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email: jack.walters@reachplc.com

BBC News Weather Presenter says he cannot remember "ever" showing an 85 mph mark on his map, "especially in somewhere like Weston Super Mare."

Longleat safari park in Wiltshire says it will close on Friday due to Storm Eunice.

A statement said: "Due to the expected high winds forecast for tomorrow, regrettably we have taken the difficult decision to close the park to all guests. 

"Anyone booked for this date will automatically receive a full refund within two weeks."

Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor of ITV News, says government sources have said there could be up to 10 severe flood warnings, and 200 general flood warnings in the next 24 hours.

She continued: "If the reasonable worst case scenario is hit with Storm Eunic, there is uncertainty as it won’t form until close to land but that’s what they’re planning for."

More than 170 flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Friday have been canccelled due to Storm Eunice.

After barrelling through the UK earlier in the day, Eunice is expected to reach the Netherlands.

The Dutch Meteorology Institute said the country will face gusts of up to 80mph, while people in the affected areas were urged to stay inside.

Several more tourist and leisure attractions have decided to close tomorrow in anticipation of the storm battling through the capital on Friday. 

Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park will be closed. As well as Bushy and Greenwich Park, all other royal parks will remain open, though playgrounds will be shut.

ZSL London Zoo and Keats House will be closed.

Due to Storm Eunice and adverse weather, we will be closing a number of sites tomorrow for safety reasons, including the Lido, Bathing Ponds, Golders Hill Park, the Hill Garden and Pergola, Highgate Wood, Keats House, and our playgrounds. Please check back here for updates.

Storm Eunice is expected to bring extremely strong winds and disruption to Bristol.

Due to the red weather warning, Bristol City Council have decided to close some services. 

All Bristol libraries will be closed, St Nicks Market will be closed, Bristol mobile lateral flow (rapid) testing vans will not be operational, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, M Shed, Bristol Archives and The Create Centre will be closed, all park cafes will be closed, Ashton Court Estate Golf Hub and all golf courses will be closed, all bin and recycling collections scheduled to take place on Friday 18 February 2022 are postponed until Monday 21 February 2022 and all bin and recycling collections for next week (Monday 21 to Friday 25 February) will now happen one day later than normal, garden waste collections are postponed and will take place one day later than normal, the Recycling Centres will be closed for the day and street cleaning work will be paused.

People on the Isles of Scilly are bracing for huge waves as Storm Eunice approaches.

The Isles of Scilly, off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, are now in the red alert zone from the Met Office's warning. 

Fishermen have brought their boats in, and the only primary school on the islands will be closed tomorrow.

Bartender Caroline Kennedy told The Independent: “We’re right on the quay and the waves can come crashing into the pub window."

Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being urged to stay safe and travel only if essential due to the storm rumbling across the UK.

The council said refuse, recycling and cleansing collections will be suspended, recycling centres will be shut and schools have been advised to close.

The area's piers will also be closed.

Storm Eunice is heading to the UK, see it on the map below. 

Environmental Agency Manager, Dave Throup, says it is undergoing explosive cyclogenesis this afternoon.

Cyclogenesis is the development of cyclonic circulation in the atmosphere. 

What a beast!#StormEunice undergoing explosive cyclogenesis this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/MRG3ThfxHq

CrossCountry trains has announced it will heavily reduce its timetable tomorrow. 

Trains will only run between Birmingham and Manchester Piccadilly, Reading and Leicester/Cambridge, between Derby and Bristol Temple Meads and between Edinburgh and York.

Earlier, CrossCountry said: "We're advising passengers not to travel on CrossCountry services on these dates due to weather conditions on Friday and strike action on Saturday."

#StormEunice Friday 18 February: There will be a heavily reduced timetable across the CrossCountry network tomorrow. Services will only run between: Derby - Bristol Temple Meads Edinburgh - York Birmingham - Manchester Picc Birmingham - Reading Birmingham - Leicester/Cambridge pic.twitter.com/edmMXhRFJ3

Grant Shapps has tonight asked Britons to remain home and rearrange journeys as Storm Eunice arrives.

He said: "To keep us safe temporary speed limits and service suspensions are being rolled out across the rail network."

Wind warnings have been issued in Cork, Kerry and Clare from 3am to 8am and in Waterford from 7am to 11am.

Clare and Waterford are recent additions. 

Ireland's Met Office have said cyclonic variable winds will veer northwesterly on coasts from Howth Head to Roches Pt to Erris Head and on the south Irish Sea.

Southwest winds veering northwest will reach mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h with gusts in excess of 130 km/h. Some coastal flooding is expected, especially at high tide.

All Stagecoach bus services in South Wales will be suspended on Friday morning until after 1.30pm.

\u26a0\ufe0fDue to the red weather warning in Wales, Stagecoach bus services will be suspended tomorrow morning until 1:30pm. \u26a0\ufe0f Please see here for more information > https://t.co/bSwLruAqTq pic.twitter.com/eLDhiGiNdq

The Met Office has issued another yellow weather warning on Saturday for wind in south Wales, south west England and all along the south coast, for between 6am and 6pm.

The Met Office warned that roads and bridges could close, journey times will be longer or cancellations may happen as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected and infrastructure recovery works resulting from storm Eunice could also be hampered, i.e. power cuts may be prolonged.

Professor Hannah Cloke, natural hazards researcher and hydrologist at the University of Reading, told The Independent that the gusts expected from Storm Eunice could "sweep people and vehicles off streets."

She continued: "They [the gusts] can pick up roof tiles and hurl them around. If you’re hit by one of those you will be seriously hurt or killed.

“Wind that strong will sweep people and vehicles off streets, and topple electricity lines.”

People are being advised to stay indoors as large trees are at risk of being uprooted, blocking major roads and damaging cars.

Motoring experts have revealed the little-known sign that can give those who do have to venture out onto the roads a major clue that the path ahead could be blocked by some dangerous felled timber.

Duncan McClure Fisher, founder and CEO of MotorEasy, said: “Storms pose a real threat to life for many reasons, but one of the main ones is felled trees blocking roads.

“But there is something to watch out for that can act as a vital early warning system for any trouble ahead.

“And that is seeing lots of twigs and leaves on the road as this could be an indication that the wind has caused significant damage to trees and other foliage in the area.

"Having your wits about you when driving in adverse weather conditions is crucial and little clues such as this can make all the difference when it comes to staying safe.

“This is especially true in rural areas where suddenly encountering a fallen tree around a sharp corner on a country lane could lead to a serious accident and pose a major risk to life."

Professor Hannah Cloke, natural hazards researcher and hydrologist at the University of Reading told The Independent that red alerts should not be taken lightly.

She said: "Red means you need to act now because there is an imminent danger to life.

"Everyone who lives or works in those areas should be battening down the hatches, literally in some cases, to prevent people from being killed and injured and to protect your homes and businesses.”

The Met Desk have warned that Storm Eunice is "explosively" developing to the West. 

It is already "ominious and foreboding" and they urge everyone to stay home and 'thousands" of trees will come come down across England Wales and flying debris will be "highly" dangerous.

Hundreds of Schools in North Wales and Bristol will be shut on Friday as they prepare for the storm.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind in the area, with gusts of up to 100mph possible between 5am and 9pm.

Schools in Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham will close on 18 February. 

Bristol City Council has advised all schools to close tomorrow and some school leaders have already told pupils not to come in.

Closures of major tourist attractions are happening across the country.

The London Eye and River Cruise will shut on Friday due to the weather - alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and Legoland in Windsor.

A statement said: "Due to severe weather disruption the London Eye and River Cruise has taken the difficult decision to close tomorrow. The safety of our guests is our number one priority and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please follow us here for updates."

A video shared by Stoke on Trent Live shows a Boeing 757 aborting a landing at Manchester Airport due to high winds from the storm yesterday.

Titan Airways flight was travelling from Lisbon, Portugal when it attempted to touch down at 4.45pm yesterday and eventually diverted to Liverpool.

On board were the Manchester City team, who had taken part in a UEFA Champion League clash against Sporting Lisbon a day earlier.

Storm Eunice could produce a "sting jet" similar, which has not been seen since the Great Storm of 1987, The Telegraph reports.

Dr Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, said: "Eunice looks like it may be able to produce a 'sting jet', a narrow, focused region of extremely strong winds embedded within the larger area of strong winds and lasting just a few hours."

"Such events are quite rare but the 1987 'Great Storm' almost certainly produced a sting jet, and some of the more damaging wind storms since have also shown this pattern."

National Highways in collaboration with The Met Office have issued a severe weather red alert for strong winds covering the South West region between the hours of 08:00 and 11:00 on Friday 18th February 2022.

Motorists have been urged to not travel on the following roads: 

M48 Severn CrossingM4 Prince of Wales BridgeM49 - M4 J22 (at Severn Crossing) to M5 J18 (at Avonmouth)M5 J13-J15 Stroud to M4M5 J18-J19 Avonmouth BridgeM5 J20-J23 Clevedon to Bridgwater

“You need to take action immediately to implement your emergency flood plan as severe flooding to homes and main roads is expected.”

Along the River Severn, Tidal Severn and the Severn Estuary, the areas likely to be affected are: Epney, Framilode and Priding, Frampton, Upper Framilode and Saul, Hempsted, Minsterworth and Stonebench, Elmore to Rodley and Westbury, Broadoak and Newnham.

In conjunction with The Met Office, the National Highways have issued a severe weather alert for strong winds which may affect travel across ALL regions between 6am and 6pm Friday 18th Feb.

Drivers are advised to not travel. 

The Dartford Crossing will be closed from 5am tomorrow (February 18) due to the strong winds brought by Storm Eunice.

National Highways: South-East tweeted: "Please be aware, #A282 #QEIIBridge will be closed from 5am tomorrow morning in readiness for #StormEunice. @metoffice. "Please plan ahead of your journey."

Good afternoon from Bristol, I'm Rachel Hagan. I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the storm for the next eight hours.

Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email: rachel.hagan@reachplc.com

Boris Johnson has confirmed the army is "on standby" to deal with the effects of the storm. 

On a visit to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the Prime Minister was asked if he would deploy the army to combat the red weather warnings put in place by the Met Office and whether financial help would be available for those affected.

Boris Johnson said in response: "So for those who have already been affected by Storm Dudley, we are offering all the support that we can.

"My sympathies to those who are still without power - we are working with the power companies, the local authorities to get their juice restored as fast as possible."

Here's a look at the Met Office forecast for the next few days as Storm Eunice hits the UK on Friday:

Wintry showers becoming confined to northern Scotland. Cloud and rain in the southwest moving quickly northwards, turning to snow in the north. Storm force winds developing in the southwest later.

Rain clearing quickly northeastwards across England and Wales whilst heavy snow in the north slowly eases later. Exceptionally windy for much of England and Wales with damaging gusts and disruption.

Winds easing briefly on Saturday morning, with a cold start, before another spell of wet and windy weather arrives. Particularly windy in the north with wintery showers at times here.

#StormEunice has now formed in the North Atlantic and will undergo a rapid intensification over the next 24 hours as it heads towards the UK Extremely strong winds are expected with dangerous conditions possible, especially around some southwestern coasts \u26a0\ufe0f Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/29o07SuJpM

National Highways is advising drivers to be prepared before driving tomorrow. 

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge at the Dartford Crossing will be closed on Friday 18 February in advance of forecast strong wind.

Head of Service Delivery Sean Martell said: "We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your trip and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.

“In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down. 

“Drivers of other vehicles should be aware of sudden gusts of wind which can affect handling and braking, and give high-sided vehicles, caravans, and motorbikes plenty of space.

"In the event of persistent high winds we may need to close bridges to traffic fora period, so please be alert for warnings of closures and follow signed diversion routes.” 

A man has been killed falling from a double-decker wagon in high winds. 

The man, in his sixties, fell from around 12 feet. He is thought to have been attempting to unload heavy goods from the lorry during the storm.

The incident took place in Marston Green, near Solihull at 9pm last night during Storm Dudley.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "A man in his 60s was attended to by paramedics at the scene, but was sadly pronounced dead a short time later."

The force described it as an "industrial accident".

It is the first confirmed death to have occurred as a result of Storm Dudley.

Queens Park in Brent, London has announced it will remain closed on Friday due to the incoming storm. 

Taking to Twitter the Queens Park Official account said: "Due to adverse weather with Storm Eunice arrive, we will, unfortunately, be closing the Park tomorrow for safety reasons. 

"We do hope to be back open again as soon as we safely can, and we'll update you here as things change". 

Due to adverse weather with Storm Eunice arriving, we will unfortunately be closing the Park tomorrow for safety reasons. We do hope to be back open again as soon as we safely can, and we'll update you here as things change.

Grand Central is urging people not to travel on Friday. 

It comes after Wales announced all trains would be cancelled due to the incoming storm. 

National Rail confirmed that all tickets dated Friday, February 18 can be used on services on Thursday, Sunday 20, Monday 21 or Tuesday 22 of February.

Great Anglia are also offering the service for free of charge on another day. as they use a reduced timetable and speed restrictions. 

\u203c\ufe0f#StormEunice - Grand Central are advising customers NOT TO TRAVEL on Friday 18 February unless your journey is absolutely essential. \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0fTickets dated Friday 18 February can be used on Grand Central services on Thursday 17, Sunday 20, Monday 21 or Tuesday 22 February.

All trains in Wales are being cancelled on Friday after a rare red warning was issued by the Met Office. 

Both Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils have also announced that schools in the area will remain closed on Friday. 

Some schools in Vale of Glamorgan will also close for the day.

The Met Office issues a red warning for wind in Wales from 7 am until 12 om on Friday for most of south Wales and southwest England. 

The Prince of Wales' engagements in South Wales on Friday have been postponed because of Storm Eunice.

Clarence House confirmed the news with a spokesman saying: "Following official guidance, the Prince of Wales's visit to Newport and Swansea on Friday 18th February will not go ahead due to the dangers posed by Storm Eunice.

"In the interests of public safety, these engagements will be postponed with a view to rescheduling at a future date."

Prince Charles was due to make his first public appearance since testing positive for Covid for the second time. 

The royal visit including a trip to Swansea and Newport.

Pictures show the impact of Strom Eunice already hitting the UK in Brighton.

High winds and Spring tides are causing large waves to crash aginst the Seawall at New Brighton promenade on Thursday. 

Storm Eunice is likely to bring winds of up to 100pmh in coastal areas and 80pmh inland. 

Alongside the red weather warning for Wales and southwest England, the Met Office has issued nine warnings. 

There are yellow warnings of snow from the Met Office affecting North West England, North East England, Yorkshire & Humber, Grampian, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders, Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar and Northern Ireland. 

The Met Office has issued several warnings for wind covering much of the country.

People are being urged to stay home on Friday as the UK braces for Storm Eunice. 

In North Somerset, councillor Mike Bell, deputy leader of the council confirmed they would be closing the floodgates at Weston seafront. 

He said: "Don't risk your safety or that of the people who would come to your rescue if you got into trouble.

"Our highways team is on stand-by to help with fallen trees, blocked roads and flooding. 

In Wales, Natural Resources Wales is urging people living near the coast to be vigilant.

A spokesperson said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely, but we are concerned that if the forecast does materialise, then we are likely to see significant flooding impacts in many places along our coastal areas.

"Wind speeds could also result in damage in many areas. We are urging caution and for everyone to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts and check for the latest flood warnings.

"If you live near to, or are visiting a coastal area, please take extra care and keep a safe distance from coastal paths and promenades as large waves can sweep you off your feet or you can be hit by debris."

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson has accused the Government of being "disgracefully unprepared" for storms in the UK, calling on more support ahead of Storm Eunice.

Spokesman Tim Farron said: "This time, as people up and down the country are barraged by stormy weather, the Government must be on hand to provide support.

"The Cobra meeting must agree on an emergency support plan including providing food, emergency accommodation and electricity generators for those affected by any power cuts."

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Ellis will lead an emergency Cobra meeting today to "discuss the response to Strom Dudley and Storm Eunice".

The Met Office issued a red warning for areas of South West England and Wales on Friday. 

These are the areas covered by the warning:

The Met Office chief meteorologist has warned of a "significant danger to life" when Storm Eunice hits. 

Frank Saunders said the storm could be "one of the most impactful" that the UK has seen "for a few years".

His comments come after the Met Office issued a red warning for the storm.

Mr Saunders said: "The red warning area indicates a significant danger to life as extremely strong winds provide the potential for damage to structures and flying debris. Although the most exposed coastal areas in the south and west could see gusts in excess of 90mph, winds will remain notably strong further inland, with gusts of between 70-80mph for most within the amber warning area.” 

Fire and Rescue teams in Bristol have been spotted making repairs to the Radisson Blue hotel in Bristol due to storm damage. 

Avon Fire and Rescue will have to abseil down the 61ft high building to complete the repairs. 

Two fire engines and two police cars were spotted outside the building last night after glass fell from the building. 

Thankfully no one was hurt but there are concerns any unstable material could blow off.

Helicopters in Bristol are also on stand-by for Storm Eunice.

Teams from @AvonFireRescue urban search and rescue can be seen preparing to make repairs after storm damage to Radisson Blu hotel in Bristol city centre. Members will abseil down the 61ft high building to make necessary repairs Pic @CourtneySargeTV pic.twitter.com/Ww9FTqHeEa

A COBRA emergency committee will meet today to "discuss the response to Strom Dudley and Strom Eunice". 

A Government spokesperson confirmed the meeting saying Cabinet Office Minister Michael Ellis will lead the meeting.

The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind for Friday. 

The warning is in place across the Welsh and southwest coast from 7am to 12pm tomorrow when Storm Eunice hits. 

Weather maps show Storm Eunice threatening enveloping swatches of the UK as the strongest gusts are likely around the Welsh and southern coast.

The latest Netweather forecast states: "Wind gusts of 60 to70mph are likely widely inland across England and Wales south of a line from Manchester to Humber, across south Wales, south Midlands, southern England and East Anglia UKMO shows gusts between 70 to 80mph between 9am and 3pm. 

"Across northern coasts of Cornwall, Devon, the Bristol Channel and southern coasts of south Wales gusts between 80 to 100mph are progged."

MetDesk has shared a map of the peak wind speeds that will cover the UK on Friday when Storm Eunice hits. 

Speeds of up to 100 mph can be seen with the south and south west seeing the strongest winds. 

The forecaster said the storm looks "absolutely brutal" and "very dangerous" and "damaging" warning of flying debris and falling trees. 

#StormEunice looks absolutely brutal on Friday, a very dangerous, damaging storm. These type of wind gusts across S Britain are very rare. Flying debris and falling trees will be a huge problem. Here are the peak gusts on the latest ECMWF model. pic.twitter.com/3QDU4wh2ht

Network Rail has shown just some of the damage caused by Storm Dudley over the past 24 hours but says Storm Eunice will be "more severe". 

The network is advising people to check before they travel to avoid disruption. 

Damage includes fallen trees, damaged overhead lines and tracks but continuing high winds means engineers are unable to work at height or with certain machinery until the wind level has dropped. 

\ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f #StormDudley has caused major disruption and #StormEunice will be more severe tomorrow. \u26a0\ufe0f Check @nationalrailenq before travelling. How storms impact the railway: \u27a1\ufe0f https://t.co/fzcO5nSxP4#storms #severeweather pic.twitter.com/u6cmFJ7z5a

A forecaster has warned Storm Eunice will "rapidly intensify" as it moes northeast across Ireland.

Nick Finnis said "damaging winds" and "heavy snow" should be expected across northern England and Scotland, particularly on higher ground.

He said: "I can’t emphasis enough that this is a significant storm with potential to cause widespread damage and travel disruption, despite the news giving very little airtime this evening. Take care!"

Mr Finnis said the storm will move across Ireland on Friday morning before crossing the Irish Sea, hitting northwest England in the middle of the day before exiting northeast England during the afternoon.

ScotRail has cancelled some services until it is safe to reopen. 

A number of services have been withdrawn until at least 10am on Thursday. 

National Rail said as of 7am Thursday, dozens of train companies have been affected in the north of England, the Midlands, Wales and across most of Scotland, including LNER, Transport for Wales and ScotRail.

It added that due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Bedford and St Albans, some lines are currently blocked on the East Midlands Railway and Thameslink lines.

UPDATE: As a result of strong winds and heavy rain due to #StormDudley Scotrail passenger services are withdrawn until approximately 1000 today with the exception of the following services: pic.twitter.com/rhsuFnDDfH

Thousands of homes remain without power after Storm Dudley swept through the UK overnight. 

Capel Curig in Wales experienced gusts of up to 81mph, with Emley Moore in West Yorkshire and Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire seeing 74mph winds.

Northern Powergrid said 1,000 properties still had no lights on Thursday morning due to the weather.

A spokesperson confirmed power had been restored to 19,000 homes and businesses.

On Wednesday evening at 9pm, around 4,000 people were thought to still be without power. About 14,000 customers were originally affected by the weather but 10,000 had been reconnected.

The Met Office has issued an Amber weather warning for wind across much of the UK.

The warning is in place from 3am until 9pm on Friday. 

The warning states: "Storm Eunice may cause significant disruption due to extremely strong winds on Friday.

The Met Office also issued a "danger to life" warning of 'flying debris', 'damage to buildings and homes' and 'power lined brought down'. 

There is also a "good chance" of disruption to travel, large waves and power cuts. 

Scotlands Deputy First Minister has warned that the next few days will be "very challenging".

Speaking ahead of Storm Eunice, John Swinney wanred Scots to expect "another period of disruption". 

He said: "High winds may cause issues on roads and bridges, disruption to power supplies and danger from falling trees.

"We would urge everyone to plan their journeys in advance, exercise caution on the roads, and follow the latest travel advice."

A meteorologist in Scotland has warned that Storm Dudley was "just the beginning of an exceptional wind episode". 

Storm Eunice is due to hit the UK on Thursday night into Friday.

Scott Duncan said the upcoming conditions are "really concerning" and is likely to cause "significant damage".

Windy conditions in Europe have come all the way across the Atlantic. This is just the beginning of an exceptional wind episode. Friday \u26a0\ufe0f Storm Eunice really is concerning. Not your usual wind storm. Significant damage now likely through densely populated Northwest Europe. pic.twitter.com/j9uYsB6Bkd

Good morning I'm Francesca Edwards, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Storm Eunice for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

Email: francesca.edwards@reachplc.com

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