Storm Éowyn 'rapidly intensifying' as it approaches UK

A red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office as Storm Éowyn is set to bring strong winds to the UK and Ireland on Friday, 24 January. 

Weather experts from the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology comment on the science behind Storm Éowyn, the impact of climate change, the potential records broken and how to keep safe. To arrange an interview, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk.  

Dr Ambrogio Volonte said: “Storm Éowyn is shaping up to be an impressive storm, rapidly intensifying as it races east across the North Atlantic. It is set to make landfall over Ireland in the early hours of Friday, before sweeping across the British Isles throughout the day. Gusts are predicted to exceed 100mph in exposed areas on Ireland’s west coast. Storm Éowyn could rival the ferocity of Storm Eunice and Storm Ciarán, both of which sadly claimed lives and left behind severe damage.

“The storm is “explosively developing,” meaning it’s intensifying at an exceptional rate. Its central air pressure at sea level is expected to plummet by over 50hPa in just 24 hours—more than twice what’s needed for meteorologists to classify it as explosive. This rapid strengthening happens when a powerful jet stream high in the atmosphere combines with a sharp contrast in temperatures and moisture at the ocean’s surface, creating the perfect conditions for the system to grow into a particularly intense and dangerous storm.

“In fact, Storm Éowyn’s structure mirrors some of the most formidable storms of recent decades, and its predicted intensity puts it firmly in the ranks of the strongest we’ve experienced. With such extreme winds on the horizon, Met Éireann and the Met Office have issued important warnings so people can appropriately prepare for widespread disruption and damage.”

Dr Jess Neumann said: “Storm Éowyn is not one to underestimate—stay safe, stay prepared, and plan ahead. This storm has the potential to bring serious risks, not just to travel and property, but to your safety and wellbeing.  

“Storm Éowyn is set to hit the the UK hard on Friday, bringing 90mph winds, torrential rain, and potentially leaving heavy snow in its wake. 

“Expect widespread travel disruption, power outages and dangerous conditions along coastlines and high wind areas. Severe flooding is likely, with heavy rain and snowmelt combining to create hazardous surface water and flash floods that could strike with little warning. Check your flood risk online at https://www.gov.uk/check-flooding and take action now if you’re in a vulnerable area. 

“If you must travel, be prepared for delays. Carry spare warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, a torch, and ensure your vehicle is fuelled and well-maintained. For those at risk of flooding, act quickly. If time permits and it’s safe, turn off your gas and electricity, move valuables to higher ground, and relocate to safety.”

Professor Suzanne Gray said: “Storm Éowyn is currently forecast to become one of the deepest storms on record, with the central pressure dropping to below 940 millibars as the storm approaches the west coast of Scotland. Pressures below 940 mb are rare for the British Isles, with only five reliably recorded occasions of pressures below 940 mb on the mainland British Isles in 200 years of reliable measurements up to 2007. 

“Storm Dirk, which occurred on Christmas Eve 2013, was a recent record breaker for storm pressure. Its central pressure drop to 927 mb as it approached North West Scotland made it the deepest storm in the vicinity of the British Isles since 1886. While Storm Éowyn is not forecast to beat this record, it is certainly a storm to watch.”

“Stormy weather is not unusual in the autumn and winter over the UK. It requires detailed research to attribute the strength of the impacts of any specific storm to climate change. To date, the observed trends in UK storminess have not provided a conclusive link with climate change. One reason why is it difficult to make this link is that the position and variability of UK storminess is very dependent on the position of the jet stream, which varies substantially. However, studies have shown that winter storms may become more frequent and clustered in the future, such that several storms occur one after the other. The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase but it is unclear how the overall intensity will change because of competing effects. The small number of studies that have considered the “sting jets” that can produce particularly strong localised surface winds and gusts have found an increasing likelihood that they will occur in storms.”