Glasgow is bracing for severe weather as Storm Éowyn approaches, prompting extensive transportation disruptions and safety warnings from local authorities. The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning, indicating imminent dangers to life due to projected wind speeds reaching up to 90mph.
Effective from 10am to 6pm on Friday, January 24, the weather advisory has led to significant cancellations across the region. First Bus, one of the main public transport operators in Glasgow, announced the suspension of all its services beginning at 8am. Duncan Cameron, the Managing Director of First Bus Scotland, elaborated on the situation: "Following strong advice from the relevant authorities including the First Minister and Police Scotland, First Bus will be temporarily suspending all services across Greater Glasgow ahead of the red weather warning. We’re advising all passengers to follow the advice by not travelling tomorrow."
The decision places passenger safety at the forefront, with buses and their drivers being withdrawn early to return to depots. Expected reintroduction of services is not anticipated until around 6pm after conditions are deemed safe.
First Minister John Swinney echoed the caution, emphasizing the potential dangers, stating, "The potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property, and transport and power disruption." His comments came as emergency services began coordinating efforts to manage the upcoming storm's text alerts and public information. Schools across the region are also shutting down, adhering to advice from authorities aimed at minimizing risk.
Both ScotRail and McGill's Buses have similarly suspended their services, with ScotRail confirming the cancellations and advising customers to stay updated. The impact of Storm Éowyn extends to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which has also cancelled all non-urgent appointments scheduled for Friday. This extensive shut down reflects the seriousness of the weather threats posed and follows police recommendations to act swiftly.
Residents of Glasgow will receive emergency alerts on their mobile phones, sending out loud siren-like notifications about the weather warnings and guidelines on how to stay safe. A Cabinet Office Spokesperson provided insight on the system, saying, "Mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent. The sound and vibration will last for about ten seconds." Approximately 4.5 million people are set to receive these notifications, marking this as the largest live use of the emergency alert tool to date.
STV weatherman Sean Batty characterized the impending storm as "a weather bomb," arising from significant shifts in atmospheric pressure and linking it to unusual weather patterns across the Atlantic. His forecasts pointed to potential gusts causing "very dangerous conditions." Batty explained the phenomenon, indicating how concurrent weather incidents abroad can drastically influence local conditions. "The very cold there is flooding all the way south, which is bringing rare and historic snowfall to parts of Florida and other places. This demonstrates how events from America can impact our weather here too," he remarked.
Scottish Power and other utility companies have urged residents to prepare for possible power outages and to have emergency supplies at hand, including torches and device chargers. Transport warnings have extended beyond just buses and trains, with Glasgow Airport also advising passengers to check their flight statuses as disruptions loom.
The Scottish Government, recognizing the severity of the situation, has activated its high-level resilience room to facilitate safety measures for responders across the police, fire service, and ambulance sectors. Residents are strongly encouraged to heed the warnings and stay indoors during the storm’s peak hours.
John Swinney reiterated the public’s role in maintaining safety through observation of weather alerts and advisory notes, stating, “Red weather warnings like this are very rare, and our message is simple: please follow the advice from the Met Office and the police, take this seriously and stay safe.”
With Storm Éowyn set to cause widespread disruption, Glaswegians are left to prepare for one of the most challenging weather events of the season. The next few days will be pivotal as authorities continue to prioritize safety and coordinate responses to the storm’s impact on daily life.