London: Storm Éowyn has been described as the "strongest storm" to hit the UK in at least ten years, according to the Met Office, with wind speeds exceeding 100mph causing widespread devastation. At its peak, nearly one million properties across the British Isles were without power, and major road and rail routes were blocked.
Scotland and Northern Ireland bore the brunt of the storm, with nearly 400 damage incidents reported by Network Rail Scotland. By Saturday morning, around 30,000 properties in Scotland and 189,000 in Northern Ireland remained without power. It may take up to 10 days to fully restore electricity in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, damage to infrastructure, including schools, was described as unprecedented.
A man in Ireland, 20-year-old Kacper Dudek, tragically lost his life when a tree fell on his car in County Donegal, where record winds of 114mph were recorded.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for strong winds in Scotland until Saturday afternoon, with gusts expected to reach up to 80mph in exposed areas. A yellow ice warning also remains in place across parts of England and Wales until 10 am on Saturday.
Transport across the UK remains heavily disrupted. ScotRail reported extensive damage to tracks and overhead lines, while major ferry operators like CalMac and Irish Ferries continue to recover from cancellations. Edinburgh and Glasgow airports warned of challenging conditions, advising passengers to check with airlines before travelling. Avanti West Coast has urged passengers not to travel north of Preston.
Flood warnings are in place across the UK, including parts of Salisbury, Gloucester, and Scotland's River Earn and River Oykel. Wales has also issued alerts for the River Dee near Wrexham and Pwllheli.
Local communities described the storm as "like an earthquake,"
While winds are easing as the storm moves into the North Sea, heavy showers, snow, and gales are expected to continue into the weekend. Engineers and emergency services are working tirelessly to restore power, clear roads, and repair critical infrastructure.
Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant, as the recovery phase from Storm Éowyn begins.
