SCOTLAND is bracing for the storm of the century with up to 100mph winds primed to wreak havoc and the entire country urged to stay at home.
Millions received an emergency alert on their phones urging them to watch for flying debris as the Met Office issued a rare red danger to life warning.
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With Storm Eowyn poised to be the worst tempest to hit the central belt since 1998, First Minister John Swinney said: “People should not travel — take this seriously and stay safe.”
More than three million Scots face a Storm Eowyn red alert with thousands of schools closed, all trains and ferries axed and hospital operations called off.
People were warned their lives could be at risk if they defied warnings not to travel, with 100mph gusts set to sweep the country.
Millions last night received emergency mobile alerts about possible flying debris, blown-off roofs and felled trees and power lines.
Power firms have drafted in engineers amid fears thousands of homes could lose electricity.
Read More on Storn Eowyn
At least 27 of 32 Scots councils have closed some or all schools.
And pet owners were advised to keep dogs on leads amid fears they could be blown away.
Predicted wind speeds of up to 90mph inland and 100mph in coastal areas could create the worst tempest of the 21st century — topping January 2012’s 81mph gales.
Weather experts’ rare ‘red’ warning runs from 10am to 5pm on Friday across the central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, plus the south-west and some islands.
There is a further risk of snow and rain with a 24-hour amber warnings across the rest of the country lasting until 6am tomorrow.
Ministers are set to co-ordinate the response from the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room.
First Minister John Swinney warned: “We have to be clear — people should not travel.”
ScotRail bosses opted to cancel all Friday’s train services as they would “not be safe”.
Bus operators First, CityLink and McGill’s also axed services.
The Forth Road Bridge could be closed to all vehicles.
And the nearby Queensferry Crossing could be shut to high-sided vehicles, motorcycles and cars with trailers or roof boxes.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop urged motorists to keep off roads.
She stressed: “I would urge people to avoid travel in the area affected by the red warning for wind.”
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Roads policing bosses told drivers facing essential travel to pack a fully charged phone and call emergency services if they get into trouble.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan cautioned: “Debris and fallen trees are just some examples of the things that they could expect, which is why we’re reiterating the advice around not travelling at all.
“Red warnings don’t happen very often. We need to be prepared.”
Flyers are set to be hit by delays and cancellations with Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Airports warning of “limited operations”.
Meteorologists last night warned snow could shift to rain later, bringing a risk of floods.
‘Worse than Hurricane Bawbag’
STORM Eowyn could be the most intense in recent history, says weather expert Sean Batty.
The STV meteorologist reckons it may be even worse than 2011’s Hurricane “Bawbag” (officially named Friedhelm).
Around 150,000 homes lost power, planes were grounded and all schools shut in the west of Scotland. Sean said: “Storm Eowyn could bring the lowest pressure to Scotland since 1982, potentially making it one of the most intense storms in recent history.
“The worst of the winds from Eowyn look as though they will hit central, southern and western areas of the country and, worryingly, the more populated areas during daylight hours when there are more people out and about.”
Storm intensity is measured by low pressure, he went on, with “Bawbag” falling to 945 millibars over the Western Isles.
He added: “Currently it looks like Eowyn could see pressure drop to just below 940mb close to Tiree on Friday morning.”
Eowyn forced the first Scots Strictly Come Dancing Live show to be postponed in Glasgow.
Many of the cast from the BBC hit were due to perform at the city’s Hydro for three nights.
A rescheduled gig was set for Sunday evening.
The Met Office’s Paul Gundersen said explained that the red warning signalled “the most severe weather” with a “likely danger to life” and risk of “severe disruption”.
He said: “The strongest winds are likely in central and southwestern parts of Scotland, where winds could gust 80-90mph quite widely, and potentially up to 100mph for exposed coasts.
“Storm Eowyn is a multi-hazard event, with snow likely for some, rain for many and strong winds for much of the UK.”
Chiefs in Glasgow today announced all schools and nurseries will be shut on Friday.
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Edinburgh bosses plus authorities in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, East and West Lothian, Renfrewshire, Fife, Midlothian and Dunbartonshire all followed suit.
Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Dundee, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, the Borders, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Dumfries and Galloway, Angus and Falkirk councils also all announced closures.
Aberdeenshire and Highland Council said some schools will close. Council bosses added that funerals, weddings and bin collections would also be hit.
There are no reported school closures in Shetland, Orkney, or Moray.
Aberdeen and Western Isles authorities had tonight yet to make announcements.
Meanwhile health boards took the “difficult” decision to cancel all routine, non-urgent operations, appointments and clinics, including for vaccines.
Biggest iceberg is on it’s way too!
By ED SOUTHGATE
THE world’s biggest iceberg is on a collision course — with a remote British island.
The frozen mass – which is roughly 3,500 sq km in size — as big as Cornwall — is heading towards South Georgia.
Yesterday it was around 170 miles away from the territory in the Atlantic Ocean.
The icy bulk, known as A23a, is one of the world’s oldest icebergs, having been trapped in an ocean vortex since it broke from an ice shelf in 1986.
It became free last month and began drifting north from Antarctica towards the island.
Experts fear the berg’s impending arrival will put penguins and seals in danger around the wildlife haven.
All court buildings within or close to warning areas have been closed.
Tourists also face disruption with Edinburgh Castle among popular attractions closed.
And music festival organisers said all today’s Celtic Connections gigs have been called off.
UberEats said it has suspended food deliveries north of the border.
Meanwhile the north of the country is to be hit with a separate wind warning from midnight until tomorrow at 3pm.
Premiership footie fans face potentially treacherous conditions travelling to games on Saturday.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
They include St Mirren supporters due to travel from Paisley to Aberdeen, Dundee supporters heading to Glasgow for the clash with Celtic and Hibs fans going to Dingwall for the match against Ross County.
Around 4,000 Rangers fans who travelled to England for tonight’s Europa League clash against Manchester United were warned their return home could be hazardous.
Mobile warning largest in history
BY HARRY WILLIAMSON
A RARE red weather alert was sent to millions of phones last night ahead of Storm Eowyn.
The UK Government warned around 4.5million people in southern Scotland and Northern Ireland of the danger.
A message, coupled with a siren and a short handset vibration, gave advice on staying safe.
It marks the largest use of the Emergency Alerts System in the UK since it was first rolled out.
The tool, designed to tell people about life-threatening situations, has only been used four previous times since its introduction in 2023.
The Cabinet Office said: “The UK Government has well-rehearsed plans in place for severe weather, and is working with teams from devolved governments, local authorities and other bodies to coordinate the response.”
This post was originally published on here
