Sturm Éowyn: Bomb cyclone meets Ireland and UK -schools closed

Sturm Éowyn: Bomb cyclone meets Ireland and UK -schools closed

The United Kingdom and Ireland are preparing for one of the most severe storms of the past few years. The authorities have closed schools and warned the population to stay at home.

Sturm Éowyn: A serious threat

Sturm Éowyn, an extra “bombs” cyclone that has formed in the North Atlantic and quickly reinforced, is expected to bring stormy winds, heavy rain and in some regions.

weather warnings in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Met Éireann, the Irish Weather Service, has published red warnings for large parts of the country, the highest alarm level. These warnings apply from Friday morning because wind speeds of over 130 km/h can be expected. The British meteorological office, known as Met Office, has also issued red wind warnings for parts of Northern Ireland for the first time since 2011.

The dangers of Sturm Éowyn

"We only publish red warnings for the most difficult weather conditions that could represent a danger to life and cause considerable disorders. This is the case with Sturm Éowyn," said the chief meteorologist of Met Office, Paul Gundsen.

Keith Leonard, the chairman of the national coordination group for emergencies in Ireland, emphasized that "Sturm Éowyn will be an extremely dangerous and destructive weather event". All schools in Ireland and Northern Ireland will be closed on Friday. According to the responsible authorities, public transport in Ireland is hired.

heavy weather conditions predicted

Nicholas Leach, a postdoctorate for weather and climate research at the University of Oxford, told the Science Media Center that Éowyn could "cause potentially serious damage". These include flying debris and fallen trees that can create "extremely dangerous driving conditions".

rain and snow in different parts of the UK

In addition to the gusts of wind, Éowyn is expected to bring rain and snow to the United Kingdom. A yellow snow warning applies to parts of northern gland and Scotlands. In the central part of Scotland, the snow could fall between 15 and 25 centimeters, according to the Met Office.

comparison with previous storms

Ambrogio Volonté, a senior research partner at the Meteorological Institute of the University of Reading, noted that Sturm Éovyn could “compete in the most violent intensity” with the storms Eunice 2022 and Ciarán 2023, “which unfortunately demanded human lives and left serious damage.”

effects and further developments

is expected to withdraw from the United Kingdom on Saturday, although yellow wind warnings continue to apply to the north of the country on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Leach described Éowyn as an extra “bombs” cyclone that has strengthened extremely quickly in the North Atlantic. Such bomb cycles are typically the most effective winter storms in Northern Europe.

climate effects on storm intensity

Although Leach notes that the effects of the climate crisis on an extra -tratropical cyclone are still uncertain, some studies suggest that the strongest storms, as you can expect at Éowyn, could increase in intensity due to climate change.