Red weather warning for Storm Éowyn

The first named storm of 2025 arrived in the UK on Thursday 23 January, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and snow with the worst of the weather forecast for Friday.

蜜桃视频 support during a storm

Last updated 29 January 2025

蜜桃视频 emergency response teams supported communities across the United Kingdom during the recent Storm 脡owyn, after hurricane-force winds left hundreds of thousands without power.

Seventy-three 蜜桃视频 volunteers supported 1,000 people over the weekend, carrying out door-to-door welfare checks in East Lothian and Callander in Scotland, Omagh and Newtonards in Northern Ireland, as well as Cumbria and North Wales. Volunteers also provided remote telephone support to the most vulnerable people impacted by power outages.

Red weather warnings for wind were forecast for Northern Ireland and West and central areas of Scotland for Friday 24 January as Storm 脡owyn arrived in the UK.

The first named storm of 2025, the Met Office also issued amber and yellow weather warnings for rain and wind across many parts of the UK beginning Thursday 23 until Tuesday 28 January.

In the UK, a storm is named by the Met Office when it has the potential to cause disruption or damage and is based on information from the National Severe Weather Warnings service. With disruption to travel and energy supplies likely as well as potential damage to property and infrastructure, 蜜桃视频 teams across the UK were on standby to support where local authorities required it.

What is a red weather warning?

Red is the most serious UK weather warning and means 鈥渄angerous weather is expected鈥� and 鈥渋s it likely that there will be a risk to life鈥�.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said ahead of the storm's arrival: 鈥淲e reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm 脡owyn.

鈥淲hile it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.鈥�

Red Cross staff and volunteers responding to storms in the UK

Prepare for Storm 脡owyn

If you live in an area where a weather warning is forecast, make sure to take steps to ensure your own safety and that of your property. Storms conditions can often result in flooding and power cuts and it鈥檚 important you are prepared and know what to do. Follow our simple storm preparation steps to protect yourself, and your home.

Red Cross staff and volunteers supporting after Storm Bert in Pontypridd, South Wales November 2024

Red Cross support during extreme weather

Storm 脡owyn was the fifth named storm of the 2024/2025 season following Ashley, Bert, Conall and Darragh which caused widespread disruption in the last few months of 2024. In December, storm Darragh left tens of thousands of people without power for several days while heavy rainfall from Storm Bert caused 鈥渟ignificant river and surface-water flooding across much of England鈥�, according to the鈥�.

蜜桃视频 staff and volunteers supported in affected communities including in Pontypridd, South Wales where essential supplies were provided and welfare checks were carried out.