An Atlantic storm battered Britain and Eire on Friday with file winds of as much as 122 miles per hour, killing at the least one particular person, knocking out energy for tens of 1000’s and shredding the roof of London’s O2 area.
Storm Eunice, which brewed within the central Atlantic and was spun up from the Azores in direction of Europe by the jet stream, posed a hazard to life, Britain’s Meteorological Workplace mentioned.
The storm hit western England, making landfall in Cornwall, the place waves lashed the coast, sending plumes of spray over the roofs of cottages, Reuters footage confirmed.
In Wales, waves crashed over Aberystwyth promenade, some as excessive as homes. Greater than 100,000 individuals have been hit by energy cuts as traces have been torn down and historic timber keeled over.
Excessive winds in London shredded the white domed roof of the O2 area which has hosted stars from The Rolling Stones to Beyonce and Rihanna. Tall buildings in London trembled as wind whistled by means of Canary Wharf.
“Storm Eunice is actually packing a punch,” Met Workplace Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders mentioned. “We solely situation pink climate warnings after we assume there’s a menace to life from the climate.”
The Met Workplace mentioned a gust of 122 mph (196 kph) was recorded at The Needles on the Isle of Wight, provisionally a file for probably the most highly effective gust ever recorded in England.
A person died in Eire after being struck by a falling tree whereas clearing storm particles, RTE reported. One other particular person was injured by falling particles in Henley-on-Thames, west of London.
Planes have been buffeted so strongly by gusts at some airports that pilots have been pressured to desert landings. A reside stream of Heathrow Airport’s runway was being watched by greater than 200,000 individuals on-line.
A complete of 436 flights have been canceled throughout the UK amid file winds from storm Eunice, in response to Cirium information.
Troops on Standby
Greater than 100,000 buildings have been left with out energy, distributors mentioned. Ferries and trains have been canceled.
“Storm Eunice – There might be NO Transport for Wales trains operating on this date,” an announcement board mentioned at Aberystwyth station. All trains in Kent, southern England, have been canceled.
“We’re closing all routes in Kent, and all traces in SE London are blocked by timber,” Community Rail Kent & Sussex mentioned. “Please don’t journey.”
BA ICAG.L mentioned there it was canceling various flights and that there can be important disruption.
Danish ferry operator DFDS DFDS.CO mentioned in an announcement posted on Twitter that its ferries between Dover and Calais have been suspended attributable to excessive winds.
Such pink warnings are comparatively uncommon. The final one issued was in November 2021. Scotland has issued yellow warnings for heavy snow.
The British authorities will maintain a COBR emergency response assembly to debate the response to the storm.
Britain’s safety minister, Damian Hinds, mentioned troops have been on standby to cope with the implications of the climate.
“We must always all comply with the recommendation and take precautions to maintain secure,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned. “I thank responders for all their efforts.”
(Writing by Man Faulconbridge; further reporting by Carl Recine in Aberystwyth, Wales and Tom Nicholson in Porthleven, Cornwall; enhancing by Kate Holton, Barbara Lewis and Andrew Heavens)
{Photograph}: Waves crash on the seafront at Blackpool earlier than Storm Dudley hits the north of England and southern Scotland, on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Storm Dudley hit the UK simply days earlier than Storm Eunice. Photograph credit score: Peter Byrne/PA by way of AP.
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