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Storm Eowyn’s 100mph winds wreak havoc as movies present second house owner miraculously misses falling roof tile, aircraft’s bumpy touchdown at Heathrow and flying wheelie bins

Storm Eowyn brought chaos to Britain today as dramatic videos showed planes struggling to land in record-breaking winds and wheelie bins blown across streets.

One extraordinary clip captured a miraculous escape when a man narrowly avoided being hit by a falling roof tile in his garden in the Andersonstown area of Belfast

Other videos showed TV presenters struggling to stand up while delivering reports, garden trampolines being blown away and telegraph poles dancing in the winds.

It comes as the storm caused mayhem across the British Isles with 114mph winds axing 1,000 flights across the UK and Ireland and halting all trains in Scotland.

Rare red warnings were issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland as the storm posed a danger to life – damaging buildings, uprooting trees and causing power cuts. This morning, the red warning for Scotland was extended to cover more of the country.

Aviation analytics company Cirium said 1,070 flights scheduled to operate to or from UK and Irish airports today were cancelled – equivalent to 20 per cent of all flights. More than 50,000 passengers are thought to have been impacted by the disruption.

The top UK wind gust has been 93mph at Aberdaron in Gwynedd, Wales – while 114mph at Mace Head in the Republic of Ireland was the country’s fastest ever.

Hundreds of schools closed in Scotland, Wales and northern England today – while 715,000 homes, farms and businesses were without power across the Republic of Ireland, and a further 93,000 homes and business in Northern Ireland suffered cuts.

Train operator ScotRail suspended all services across Scotland today, insisting it ‘would not be safe to operate passenger services due to forecast weather conditions’.

Other train companies including LNER, Avanti West Coast, Lumo, CrossCountry and Grand Central told customers not to travel on routes across parts of North Wales, Scotland and northern England with no Anglo-Scots services running today.

Northern said many of its routes were shut because of severe weather, with lines blocked between Manchester and Warrington because of a fallen tree. It comes as:

The worst-hit airports in the UK and Ireland terms of number of cancellations today were Dublin (119 departures, 109 arrivals), Edinburgh (81 departures, 77 arrivals), Heathrow (50 departures, 58 arrivals) and Glasgow (43 departures, 42 arrivals). 

Others affected included Belfast International (16 departures and 16 arrivals), Belfast City (23 departures and 20 arrivals) and Aberdeen (25 departures and 25 arrivals). 

The 100mph winds from Storm Eowyn pose a danger to life in parts of the UK this morning

The 100mph winds from Storm Eowyn pose a danger to life in parts of the UK this morning

Ryanair flight RK596 from London Stansted to Edinburgh reached the skies above the Scottish capital but was unable to land. After circling over the Borders it returned to Stansted.

Met Office weather warnings in place today

Red – Wind: 7am-2pm

Northern Ireland

Red – Wind: 10am-5pm

Central, Tayside & Fife, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde

Amber – Wind: 1pm-6am tomorrow

Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland, Strathclyde

Amber – Wind: 6am-9pm

Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, Wales, Yorkshire & Humber

Yellow – Wind: 0am-11.59pm

Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, South West England, Strathclyde, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber

Yellow – Wind: 5am-3pm

East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, South West England, West Midlands

Yellow – Snow: 6am-11.59pm

Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Strathclyde

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The Boeing 737 jet departed Stansted at 8.35am and touched down at the same airport two hours and 44 minutes later, at 11.19am.

Ryanair has also cancelled its 1.55pm departure from Stansted to Edinburgh.

Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast and Steam Packet Ferries between Heysham and the Isle of Man both said today’s planned sailings had been cancelled.

Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel ‘unless absolutely essential’ – with millions urged to stay at home in the worst-hit regions after receiving emergency alerts on their phones.

Hundreds of schools were shut today including 120 in Aberdeenshire, 43 in the Highlands, 42 in Northern Ireland, 30 in Northumberland and seven in Cumberland.

Glasgow City Council said all of its school and nurseries were closed, while Edinburgh Council shut all schools. Argyll and Bute and the Scottish Borders closed all schools – while in Wales, more than 30 in Anglesey and two in Gwynedd were shut.

Red warnings for wind were issued by the Met Office in Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm today, and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.

Gusts of 80 to 90mph are expected widely inland in the warning areas, with speeds of up to 100mph likely along coasts, the forecaster said. 

Additionally, a red warning is in place for the Isle of Man until 2pm, which is the first such alert issued on the island for seven years.

At 11am, the Met Office has extended its red weather warning to cover more of Scotland.

The warning now covers as far south as Lockerbie on the south-west of Scotland. The Met Office made the announcement at around 11am.

Amber wind warnings are also in place for Northern Ireland, the southern half of Scotland, northern England and north Wales between 6am and 9pm today, and the northern half of Scotland from 1pm today to 6am tomorrow.

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A person holding their hat on their head on a windswept Tynemouth Longsands beach today

A person holding their hat on their head on a windswept Tynemouth Longsands beach today

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks 

A fallen tree across the North Road in east Belfast this morning as Storm Eowyn strikes

A fallen tree across the North Road in east Belfast this morning as Storm Eowyn strikes

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

A bus shelter in Belfast is pictured this morning after it was damaged during Storm Eowyn

A bus shelter in Belfast is pictured this morning after it was damaged during Storm Eowyn

Two women brave the wind as Storm Eowyn hits the country at Cleveleys near Blackpool today

Two women brave the wind as Storm Eowyn hits the country at Cleveleys near Blackpool today

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Winds reaching 60 to 70mph will be widespread in these warning areas.

There is a yellow wind warning covering most of the UK for the entirety today.

Smaller yellow warnings for snow in Scotland, from 6am to midnight, and rain in South West England and Wales until 9am.

Further amber and yellow weather warnings for wind and rain have also been issued across tomorrow and Sunday.

Some 34 flood alerts were imposed for England, along with eight in Wales and three in Scotland. There was also one flood warning in Britford, Salisbury.

More than 2,500 Scots are without power as a result of Storm Eowyn, according to a major energy provider.

The Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) said today that 2,621 customers are currently without power across the country – a number it said is likely to increase throughout the day.

As of 10am, SSEN says power has been restored to 6,568 customers who were also previously without electricity.

SSEN has at least ten times the usual number of people working in response to Storm Eowyn.

Parts of a wall of a house in Belfast fell down in strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn today

Parts of a wall of a house in Belfast fell down in strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn today

Passengers at Edinburgh Airport today, where 74 departures and 72 arrivals have been axed

Passengers at Edinburgh Airport today, where 74 departures and 72 arrivals have been axed

A plane lands in strong winds at London Heathrow Airport as Storm Eowyn hits Britain

A plane lands in strong winds at London Heathrow Airport as Storm Eowyn hits Britain

Good Morning Britain reporter Nick Dixon was battered by strong winds while reporting today

Good Morning Britain reporter Nick Dixon was battered by strong winds while reporting today

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

Collapsed scaffolding blocking Harold's Cross Road in Dublin this morning as the storm hits

Collapsed scaffolding blocking Harold’s Cross Road in Dublin this morning as the storm hits

People try to shelter from the wind as they walk through Central London this morning

People try to shelter from the wind as they walk through Central London this morning

The frontage of a Marks & Spencer in Irvine, North Ayrshire, is blown away by the winds today

The frontage of a Marks & Spencer in Irvine, North Ayrshire, is blown away by the winds today

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

A fallen tree across the North Road in east Belfast this morning as Storm Eowyn strikes

A fallen tree across the North Road in east Belfast this morning as Storm Eowyn strikes

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Waves break against a sea wall at Carnlough on the north east coast of Northern Ireland today

Waves break against a sea wall at Carnlough on the north east coast of Northern Ireland today

Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said this morning: ‘Storm Eowyn is now bringing very strong winds to parts of the UK. 

Top gusts recorded by Met Office in UK today

  1. Aberdaron, Gwynedd – 93mph
  2. Killowen, Down – 92mph
  3. Capel Curig – 87mph
  4. Lake Vyrnwy, Powys – 86mph
  5. Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire – 86mph
  6. Thomastown, Fermanagh – 85mph
  7. Orlock Head, Down – 85mph

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‘There is potential for gusts of 100mph in exposed locations within the Red warning area. Anyone in these red and amber warning areas should listen to advice from local responders and keep up to date with weather warnings for their area.’

A gust of 93mph was recorded at Aberdaron in Gwynedd, north Wales – the strongest gust so far today in the UK, the Met Office said.

Elsewhere, wind speeds have reached 92mph at Killowen, County Down in Northern Ireland; 87mph at Capel Curig in Conwy, north Wales; 86mph at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, north Wales; 86mph at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire, south-west Scotland; 85mph at Thomastown in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland; and 85mph at Orlock Head in County Down, also in Northern Ireland.

The strongest gust ever recorded in the UK is 142 mph, at Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire in eastern Scotland, on February 13 1989.

Eowyn was so severe that it knocked some weather stations in western Ireland offline, meaning the full extent of powerful winds today is not yet known.

BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston described the storm as a ‘once in a generation’ event. The corporation’s weather service had previously warned that Eowyn would be the ‘storm of the century’ for Ireland.

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A Tesco Express supermarket in Glasgow is closed at 8am today as the storm hits Scotland

A Tesco Express supermarket in Glasgow is closed at 8am today as the storm hits Scotland

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Scaffolding sheeting is damaged by the wind on North Finchley High Road in London today

Scaffolding sheeting is damaged by the wind on North Finchley High Road in London today

A person works to clear fallen trees from the road at Feighcullen in Ireland this morning

A person works to clear fallen trees from the road at Feighcullen in Ireland this morning

A bus drives around bins blown over by the winds on Princes Street in Edinburgh today

A bus drives around bins blown over by the winds on Princes Street in Edinburgh today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

A view of a deserted Princes Street in Edinburgh this morning during Storm Eowyn

A view of a deserted Princes Street in Edinburgh this morning during Storm Eowyn

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Two women brave the wind as Storm Eowyn hits the country at Cleveleys near Blackpool today

Two women brave the wind as Storm Eowyn hits the country at Cleveleys near Blackpool today

BBC forecaster Simon King said the west coast of Ireland had possibly experienced a ‘sting jet’, where strong winds higher in the atmosphere are forced to the ground.

He pointed out that a sting jet during the Great Storm of 1987 is thought to have brought the strongest winds to southern England.

Looking ahead, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mark Sidaway said: ‘While the worst of the winds from Storm Éowyn will ease later on Friday, Scotland will continue to see gusty winds through Saturday as the low pressure clears to the northeast. After a brief calmer spell, another area of low pressure will bring further strong winds and heavy rain through Sunday.

‘The strongest winds will be focused in western parts, while the wettest conditions will likely be across Wales, central and southern England. This low pressure will not be as powerful as Storm Éowyn but it could hamper the recovery efforts of responders in some of the impacted areas from Friday’s storm. 

A woman holds onto an umbrella as it is blown inside out on Westminster Bridge this morning

A woman holds onto an umbrella as it is blown inside out on Westminster Bridge this morning

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

Firefighters in Dublin remove a tree from Killiney Road this morning as Storm Eowyn hits

Firefighters in Dublin remove a tree from Killiney Road this morning as Storm Eowyn hits

Parts of a wall of a house in Belfast fell down in strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn today

Parts of a wall of a house in Belfast fell down in strong winds brought by Storm Eowyn today

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

Passengers wait for updates at London Heathrow Airport today as some flights are cancelled

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

Glasgow city centre at 8am today as Storm Eowyn hits and buses turn back on Argyle Street

Glasgow city centre at 8am today as Storm Eowyn hits and buses turn back on Argyle Street

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

‘Warnings could be updated through the weekend and into next week, so keep up to date with the forecast.’

As for today, National Highways said the A66 between the A1M in North Yorkshire and M6 in Cumbria, as well as the A628 Woodhead Pass in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, were both closed overnight due to strong winds.

Further south, the M48 Severn Bridge was closed due to strong winds, while the Tamar Bridge on the A38 between Devon and Cornwall was closed to high-sided vehicles.

Avon and Somerset reported a number of local roads had been blocked due to fallen trees, advising motorists to ‘take care when travelling’.

In Wales, Gwent Police confirmed emergency services were working to manage surface flooding on the B4598 Raglan Toward Abergavenny.

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Waves break against a sea wall at Carnlough on the north east coast of Northern Ireland today

Waves break against a sea wall at Carnlough on the north east coast of Northern Ireland today

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

All flights at Edinburgh Airport have been cancelled this morning due to Storm Eowyn

All flights at Edinburgh Airport have been cancelled this morning due to Storm Eowyn

A view of a deserted Waverley Bridge in Edinburgh during Storm Eowyn this morning

A view of a deserted Waverley Bridge in Edinburgh during Storm Eowyn this morning

British fishing boat, FV Gonpez1 takes shelter in Bantry Bay, off the coast of Ireland today

British fishing boat, FV Gonpez1 takes shelter in Bantry Bay, off the coast of Ireland today

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

A broken telegraph pole on Blaris Road in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, this morning

A broken telegraph pole on Blaris Road in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, this morning

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has urged Scots in the central belt to follow the advice not to travel.

Appearing on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Kate Forbes said: ‘It is so important that people follow Police Scotland’s advice not to travel because if people stay at home and don’t travel then it means they don’t invite that risk to themselves.’

Ms Forbes also warned that recovery from Storm Eowyn could ‘take longer than we all hope’.

‘It is important our expectations are managed by how quickly things can return to normal and there may well be continuing disruption tomorrow,’ she said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland described the storm as an ‘exceptional weather event’ and said it was expected to bring the strongest winds seen in the country since 1998.

More than 93,000 homes and businesses were without power in Northern Ireland this morning, NIE Networks has said.

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

A member of the public battles against the wind on George Street in Edinburgh today

A person works to clear fallen trees from the road at Feighcullen in Ireland this morning

A person works to clear fallen trees from the road at Feighcullen in Ireland this morning

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A view of a deserted Princes Street in Edinburgh this morning during Storm Eowyn

A view of a deserted Princes Street in Edinburgh this morning during Storm Eowyn

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

Passengers at Edinburgh Airport today, where 74 departures and 72 arrivals have been axed

Passengers at Edinburgh Airport today, where 74 departures and 72 arrivals have been axed 

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

All flights at Edinburgh Airport have been cancelled this morning due to Storm Eowyn

All flights at Edinburgh Airport have been cancelled this morning due to Storm Eowyn 

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail 

The provider said the storm was causing ‘widespread damage’ to the electricity network.

More than 300 flights cancelled today

Analysis of flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows at least 334 flights have been cancelled across airports in Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

This means around 50,000 passengers have been affected.

The number of cancellations for each airport is:

  • Belfast International: 16 departures and 16 arrivals
  • Belfast City: 23 departures and 20 arrivals
  • Edinburgh: 74 departures and 72 arrivals
  • Glasgow: 40 departures and 41 arrivals
  • Aberdeen: 25 departures and 25 arrivals

This breakdown includes 18 domestic flights that were scheduled to depart from one of the airports and arrive at another. These were only counted once in the total of 334.

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It warned that restoration efforts will take significant time as crews cannot begin work until it is safe to do so.

A statement said: ‘We anticipate we will begin assessing the damage to the network after 2pm once the red weather warning has been lifted.’

Stormont deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly urged people to stay at home. 

‘The strong advice is to stay home,’ she told BBC Radio Ulster.

‘And that’s important, of course, because if people go out, the risk to life is from debris because of the high winds, if people go out and get into a situation, then that is calling out those essential workers that are there. We don’t want people to have to come out to deal with those. So we are advising everybody stays at home. There’s a significant outage on the electricity.’

Ms Little-Pengelly said it was a ‘very serious storm’.

‘The storm will blow over,’ she said. ‘The worst of it is here at the moment and over the next number of hours. But, of course, we will get through that.’

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has warned there is a ‘genuine threat to life and property’, describing the region as currently being ‘in the eye of the storm’.

Ms O’Neill told BBC Radio Ulster: ‘We’re asking the public to be very safe, to be very cautious, to take every precaution to ensure that they don’t take any unnecessary travel, please just stay at home if you can.

‘We’re in the eye of the storm now. We are in the period of the red alert.

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

The frontage of a Marks & Spencer in Irvine, North Ayrshire, is blown away by the winds today

The frontage of a Marks & Spencer in Irvine, North Ayrshire, is blown away by the winds today

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A fallen tree brought down during the storm blocks the road today in Holywood, near Belfast

A commuter shelters from the rain under an umbrella in London today during the storm

A commuter shelters from the rain under an umbrella in London today during the storm

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Tree surgeons cut and remove a fallen tree which is blocking the road in Liverpool today

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

Torrential rain and strong winds in Edinburgh city centre today as Storm Eowyn arrives

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits

Wooden park benches blown over by the winds at Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh today

Wooden park benches blown over by the winds at Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh today

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail 

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

Commuters are battered by strong winds as they cross Westminster Bridge in London today

‘People can see for themselves, the wind has been very much picking up overnight. We’ve just been briefed by the Civil Contingencies Group, by the PSNI who are in the lead in terms of the storm response and they tell us that the situation is, as we have outlined yesterday, we’re still in a period of jeopardy in terms of the damage that potentially could be caused as a result of the storm.

Who needs Concorde? Storm Eowyn’s powerful jet stream propels BA flight to hit subsonic speed of 814mph 

By FRANKIE ELLIOTT 

While Storm Eowyn caused havoc for thousands of air passengers whose flights were cancelled today, there was some good news for those heading in from the US.

Powerful jet stream winds over the Atlantic Ocean have slashed journey times between the US and Britain by 45 minutes and are on course to smash flight records.

British Airways flight BA274 from Las Vegas to Heathrow reached near-record speeds of 814mph on Wednesday – more than 200mph faster than the average transatlantic speed, according to data from Flight Radar.

It was just shy of the record of 835mph, which was reached by a commercial aircraft from New York JFK to Lisbon in February last year.

The subsonic record flight time was set in 2020 on a New York to London service that lasted four hours and 56 minutes – and there could yet be a new record in the coming days.

The jet stream is a wind at about 30 to 40,000 feet that travels from west to east, meandering across the Atlantic with speeds of about 190 to 200 miles an hour.

Airline companies will use this to pick up speed and save on fuel as they travel across the Atlantic, which is why it takes longer to fly to New York from London then vice versa.

The fastest ever commercial transatlantic flight was in 1996 when a British Airways Concorde flew from New York JFK to Heathrow in two hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds.

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‘I think the real message we want to get across to your listeners this morning is to please be ultra cautious, to please stay at home if you can and we will see how the storm will rage but the scale of the storm, the level of wind that we’ve experienced across the island, which is something that’s never been seen before. 

‘The threat is real, and we only can emphasise to people, please take every precaution that you absolutely can.’

RAC Breakdown advised motorists in warnings areas to stay safe by parking away from trees, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, avoid coastal routes and watch out for debris.

Some 4.5 million people received emergency alerts on their phones warning of the incoming storm in the ‘largest real life use of the tool to date’ yesterday.

In Ireland, a wind speed of 114mph (183kmh) brought by the storm has been recorded – the fastest since records began, Irish forecaster Met Eireann said.

Residents across Ireland have been urged to stay at home as the entire island braces for the arrival of the storm.

The top-level red warning for wind is in place in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland from early this morning.

Schools and colleges across Ireland are set to close and public transport come to a halt amid powerful gusts, with warnings of danger to life, fallen electric lines, damaged infrastructure and widespread power outages.

Met Eireann reported that a gust of 114mph had been recorded at Mace Head, Co Galway, at 5am, just above the previous record high of 113mph (182kmh) set in January 1945 in Foynes, Co Limerick.

It also reported the mean wind speed record of 81mph (131kmh) set in 1945 in Foynes has been broken during the storm, with up to 84mph (135kmh) at Mace Head at 4am.

The storm has caused extensive and widespread damage to the electricity network, with power outages affecting 715,000 homes, farms and businesses in the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said there had been ‘unprecedented, widespread and extensive’ damage to electricity infrastructure nationwide.

ESB said it would take a ‘significant number of days’ to restore power to all affected customers.

Irish premier Micheal Martin described it as an ‘historic storm’.

He wrote on social media: ‘I urge everyone to stay safe and stay home as the impact of Storm Eowyn is felt right across Ireland. This is a historic storm.

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

People walking their dogs at Tynemouth Longsands beach in North Tyneside this morning

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

An aerial view of flooded fields at Axminster in Devon today after the River Axe burst its banks

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A tree which has fallen into a house and garden on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast today

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

A road is blocked by a fallen tree at Rathangan in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits 

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail 

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

The storm hits Portreath in Cornwall this morning, bringing high winds and rough seas

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as all trains are axed due to Storm Eowyn

Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as all trains are axed due to Storm Eowyn

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits

All trains have been cancelled at Edinburgh Waverley railway station today as the storm hits 

‘The National Emergency Co-ordination Group is meeting shortly with a national effort involving ESB, Defence Forces, Civil Defence and Irish Water to restore power, water and get help to those who need it, once safe. Please take care.’

Deputy premier Simon Harris said: ‘Ireland has experienced the highest winds ever recorded and our power outages are widespread. Continue to heed the red warning and do not travel. The sea and shoreline are extremely dangerous.’

Approximately 150,000 premises in Ireland are at risk of water supply issues due to power outages affecting the water network. Irish Water said the majority of these customers should still have water due to storage in reservoirs.

The agency said significant disruption is expected due to the storm, adding that its crews will begin restoring supply when it is safe to do so.

In a statement, it added: ‘In areas where supply has been disrupted, most properties should have adequate storage in their attic tanks for hygiene purposes for at least 24 hours.

A broken telegraph pole on Blaris Road in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, this morning

A broken telegraph pole on Blaris Road in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, this morning

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail

Edinburgh Waverley railway station is empty today with all trains cancelled by ScotRail 

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

Two men attend to a fallen tree on Malahide Road in Dublin today as Storm Eowyn hits Ireland

A sign advising customers of a shop closure on the door of a Lidl store in Finglas, Dublin, today

A sign advising customers of a shop closure on the door of a Lidl store in Finglas, Dublin, today

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

Thames Water roadworks fencing was blown over in Eltham, South East London, this morning

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

A car parses an advertising display damaged during Storm Eowyn in Finglas, Dublin, today

A car parses an advertising display damaged during Storm Eowyn in Finglas, Dublin, today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

An ice skating facility in Blanchardstown near Dublin was destroyed by strong winds today

Some 4.5 million people received emergency alerts on their phones warning of the storm

Some 4.5 million people received emergency alerts on their phones warning of the storm

‘However customers are urged to conserve water where possible in order to protect supply while the outages are resolved.’

Police in Northern Ireland have declared a major incident and said they expect the strongest winds in the region since the Boxing Day storm in 1998 which caused widespread disruption.

The chairman of Ireland’s National Emergency Co-ordination Group, Keith Leonard, said Storm Eowyn will be one of the most severe storms Ireland has seen.

‘It is going to be a damaging, dangerous and destructive weather event,’ he said in Dublin today.

‘The forecasted winds will bring severe conditions which will constitute a risk to life and property.

‘Our most important message today is that everybody needs to shelter in place for the duration of all red warnings.

‘We are likely to see significant and widespread power outages, so I would encourage everyone to prepare ahead. Make sure phones, torches and laptops are fully charged.’

The coastal town of Donaghadee in Co Down was among those making preparations last night.

Some businesses placed sandbags at their doors, while others displayed signs to say they would be closed until after the red level alert expires this afternoon.