The storm reached the mainland on Friday morning on the English peninsula of Cornwall. In the south-west of England and in South Wales, meteorologists have previously declared the highest, ie red, degree of danger.
The British Meteorological Office said they measured a wind speed of 196 kilometers per hour on the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England. According to him, this is the strongest wind ever recorded in England.
“The Eunice storm will bring devastating gusts and could be one of the strongest to hit the south and central UK in the last few years,” said Frank Saunders, chief meteorologist at the British Meteorological Office.
He also added that the red warning area is a significant threat to life, as extremely strong winds can cause damage to buildings and flying debris.
Road closures in Wales and blackouts in Ireland
In London, a strong wind tore open the mantle of the giant O2 Arena, which stands inside the Millennium Dome – the largest self-contained building in the world. Due to the weather, several schools in endangered areas canceled classes.
The City of London airport said it had canceled 64 flights. Aircraft at British airports often had to interrupt landing maneuvers at the last minute. In total, dozens of flights were canceled, some connections were diverted.
There were also several ferry services between Dover and Calais, France. Many rail carriers in England have not advised people to travel. The train and bus services in Wales are also completely stopped. The AP reports that the British motorway network operator reports a “particularly high risk” of accidents.
British Security Secretary Damian Hinds said the military was on standby and ready to help deal with any damage. Due to the storm, an inter-ministerial meeting at ministerial level will take place on Friday.
In Ireland, according to the public television station RTÉ, a strong wind has already led to power outages for approximately 55,000 households. All schools also remain closed here.
