Met Office issues RARE amber wind warning as Storm Eowyn batters Scotland with snow

The UK's national weather service said: "Outbreaks of rain spreading northeastward on Friday morning will fall as snow initially, especially on hills, before reverting to rain and eventually easing.

"Any accumulations across northern England and southern Scotland will be fairly short-lived and largely on hills, where 2-5 cm may accumulate in places above 100 m elevation and 5-10 cm above 300 m.

"Snow will probably persist for longer north of the Central Belt, where as much as 15-25 cm is possible above 300 m.

"Given the strong winds that will accompany the snow, temporary blizzard conditions are possible over higher ground, with some drifting also possible for a time, this probably more likely north of the Central Belt."

A series of yellow fog alerts have been issued across the UK today, including in Northern Ireland, the North West of England and North East of England.

Wales, the South West of England and South East of England will also face Storm Eowyn wind warnings tomorrow, with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour expected in exposed areas.

Winds could reach as high as 90 miles per hour on Friday as almost all of the UK looks set to face a Storm Eowyn battering.

In its amber alert - covering Central, Tayside & Fife,East Midlands, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, Strathclyde, Wales, and Yorkshire - the Met Office said: "Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast on Friday night.

"This will bring a spell of very strong west to southwesterly winds, with peak gusts of 60-70 mph fairly widely inland, 70-80 mph in some areas, and 80-90 mph along more exposed coasts and hills (perhaps even higher in a few locations).

"It should be noted that there may be a slight reduction in wind strength for a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead, this most likely in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, before winds rapidly increase again. Winds will gradually ease later on Friday."

A warning in Scotland will last into the weekend, with disruption remaining a possibility throughout areas on the other side of the border.

The UK's national weather service added: "Strong west to northwesterly winds will persist through the first part of Saturday as Storm Éowyn clears away to the northeast, with gusts of 50-60 mph inland and 60-70 mph over some exposed coasts and hills.

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"There is a small chance of 70-80 mph gusts across the Northern Isles for a time.

"Winds will ease across southern parts of the warning area during the early hours of Saturday, and this easing in wind strength will expand northwards through the day on Saturday."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, Met Éireann is warning that destructive winds exceeding 130km/h will batter the Emerald Isle on Friday.

The Status Red warning will be in effect from 3am until 10am on Friday morning for Counties Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

Officials warn of "danger to life" in the affected regions, with extremely dangerous travelling conditions expected.

The severe weather is likely to cause widespread disruption, including fallen trees and significant power outages across the four counties.

Authorities are warning of potential structural damage to buildings and unsafe working conditions.

Coastal areas face additional risks, with wave overtopping and flooding expected in low-lying and exposed locations.

Transport services are likely to face major disruption, with widespread cancellations anticipated during the warning period.

The rest of Ireland will be under a Status Orange wind warning from 2am until 5pm on Friday, Met Éireann announced.