Politics
Storm Eunice to bring 100mph ‘jet sting’ wind in HOURS as schools shut and Brits brace for ‘danger to life’ downpours
STORM Eunice will grip the UK with 100mph ‘jet sting’ winds in just hours as schools shut, soldiers prepare for deployment and Brits brace for ‘danger to life’ flooding.
The tempest is set to be the worst for more than 30 years, with scientists warning it’ll involve rare and intense gusts last seen during the Great Storm of 1987.
GettyStorm Eunice will bring a rare ‘sting jet’ last seen 35 years ago, scientists fear[/caption]
AlamyTen ‘severe’ warnings for flooding – meaning there’s a danger to life – have been issued. Earlier tonight, a young woman was almost swept out to sea in Newquay[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskA rare ‘bomb cyclone’ will hit in just hours[/caption]
Today’s squall will be less severe in terms of wind speeds than those recorded 35 years ago, when 120mph blasts hit the country.
However, the storms have the same structure – meaning Eunice could be worse than anticipated, Dr Ambrogio Volonte of Reading University told the Daily Mail.
The phenomenon was first discovered back in 2003 by academics analysing satellite images and weather data.
They found a ‘sting’ occurs when there’s evaporation at the tip of a certain type of cloud feature and a stream of strong winds of 100mph or more to the ground.
The cloud, hooked like a scorpion’s tail, is where the anomaly gets its name.
Relative to the size of the storm the sting jet is very narrow – only about 30 miles across – and tends to last just three or four hours.
However, it brings exceptionally strong and destructive winds.
As Britain braces for Storm Eunice…
Motorists warned to NOT travel by RAC unless absolutely necessaryAll trains in Wales cancelled for FridaySchools in majority of Welsh areas closed as pupils told to stay at homeBristol City Council was advising schools to close in the city because of the torrentA man died falling of a HGV lorry last night during Storm DudleyStorm Eunice set to be the worst storm UK has seen in yearsBrits bracing for 100mph winds and 8inches snow in the northNetwork Rail said disruption is ‘inevitable’Met Office upgraded storm to red warning – bringing ‘danger to life’Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Longleat and London Eye closed on Friday because of severe weatherThirteen pedigree dogs were electrocuted to death after a falling power line crashed onto a kennel
Dr Volonte said there’s more than just that to concern forecasters.
Eunice is a ‘bomb cyclone’ – just like the 1987 storm.
He said: “They feature a remarkably steep drop in pressure – more than 24 millibars in just 24 hours.”
That means the cyclone can whirl even faster, resulting in winds strong enough to bring down trees and damage buildings.
Schools and attractions around the country will shut today as Brits are urged to remain home and not travel.
The severe weather front was upgraded to a rare RED warning following the destruction caused by Storm Dudley on Wednesday night.
The West Country and Wales will be directly in the line of fire. Soldiers are bracing for deployment in areas hit hardest by the storm.
Read our weather forecast live blog for the latest updates
Ten ‘severe’ flood warnings – meaning action must be taken – have been issued.
Four concern the Severn Estuary, which flows into the Bristol Channel between England and Wales.
Three more are for the River Severn, Britain’s longest river.
Stretches at Hempsted, Minsterworth and Stonebench, and Sandhurst and Maisemore, all of which are in Gloucestershire, are affected.
The Wye Estuary at Brockweir and Elmdale, both in Gloucestershire, and Chepstow in Monmouthshire are also under severe warnings.
A further 26 flood warnings are in place in the New Forest, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, the Lake District, Merseyside, Cornwall and Devon.
And 91 milder flood warnings have also been issued.
DANGER TO LIFE
Meanwhile, people in North Yorkshire, the Pennines, Lancashire and the upper reaches of the River Severn will be warned to brace over the weekend.
Super-strong winds will race across the country for much of the day.
Meteorologists say areas of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, as well as the south coast of Wales, will see “flying debris resulting in danger to life”.
They warn trees will be pulled from their roots, power lines will fall and roofs will be torn from houses from this morning.
Major incidents have already been declared in Avon and Somerset and Cornwall.
Schools in Bristol, Somerset and Wales will shut over concerns students and teachers could be put in danger travelling to class.
BOMB CYCLONE
Roads, bridges and railways lines across the nation could shut, with delays and cancellations expected across bus and train services, as well as flights.
Commuters have been urged to rethink their journeys amid warnings that strong winds will blow trees onto train tracks..
A Network Rail spokesman said disruption is “inevitable”. There will be blanket speed restrictions of 50mph in most places.
South Western Railway, which covers swathes of the region, said a speed restriction will be in place across its entire network for most of Friday.
London North Eastern Railway revealed it will be running a reduced service between King’s Cross and York/Leeds.
Meanwhile, the Government called a meeting of Whitehall’s emergency COBRA committee on Thursday morning.
Which warnings are in place, and when do they take effect?
A yellow warning for 40-70mph winds in parts of Northern Ireland, the north of England and the Midlands is in place between 7am and 6pm
A yellow warning for two to five centimetres of snow on low ground and 10 to 30 centimetres of snow on hills for Scotland and parts of northern England is in place between 3am and 6pm
An amber warning for 60-80mph winds across much of England is in place from 3am until 9pm
A red warning of 70-90mph winds in the West Country and parts of Wales is in place from 7am until noon
Boris Johnson confirmed the Army is on standby following Wednesday’s Storm Dudley.
Speaking from RAF Waddington today, he said: “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.
“But of course, the army is on standby.”
All trains in Wales have been cancelled, while Southeastern, Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway have also urged people not to travel.
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Airports including Gatwick and Stansted are advising customers to check the status of their flights before leaving home.
Although central and southern areas will feel the biggest hit, people in the far north of England, as well as residents of Scotland, have been warned to brace for snow.
A yellow warning is in place.
@NetworkRailSCOTTravel chaos is expected. A tree burst into flames today after it was brought down onto powerlines in Dumfries, Scotland[/caption]
PAMillions will also face flooding. A cyclist navigated floodwater in Putney as he rode home yesterday afternoon[/caption]
GettyTrain services are likely to be particularly badly-hit as trees come down and services run at slower speeds[/caption]
