A rare warning of red weather, which is the most severe level, has been issued to areas in southwest England and southern Wales on Friday, which means that there’s a threat to human life from debris flying around.
The Met Office warned Storm Eunice could bring winds up to 90mph. This could lead to severe disruption.
The report said damage to homes, trains, homes, and power outages is likely.
A red warning begins at 07:07 GMT up to noon on Friday.
It encompasses the coast that runs through Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset and the southern coastal region of Wales.
A lower-amber warning for winds remains in effect for the remainder of Wales and most of England from the north to Manchester from 05:00 to 22:01 on Friday.
All trains in Wales were shut down on Friday. Rail companies are warning other customers not to travel because of anticipated disruptions.
The government convened the emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the best way to respond to the coming storm.
Premier Secretary Boris Johnson said the Army was “on standby” to support those affected.
It follows Storm Dudley caused widespread delays in travel and power interruptions on Wednesday.
- Storms Dudley and Eunice The things you should be aware of
- How, and for what reason are storms given name?
There are some concerns that storm Eunice could cause flooding in the south, west, and southern England. In addition, it is believed that the River Severn is also an issue.
A government official said to The BBC that high spring tides could trigger a surge in storms.
The source claimed the group was “well-prepared” with more than 250 high-volume pumps and 6,000 well-trained staff ready to deploy. They also said they did not take the threat from Eunice “lightly.”
The Met Office said extremely strong winds were expected to develop in southwest England and south Wales beginning on Friday morning, with widespread inland winds between 70 and 80mph, with speeds as high as 90mph in some coastal areas.
The winds are predicted to slow from the west by late morning hours, but it could remain unsettling throughout the weekend, with rain and more strong winds.
Aidan McGivern from the Met Office said red warnings are not given in a hurry and only when there is a serious risk to a person’s life and a high probability of having a significant impact.
“It is the most powerful storm we have seen in recent years, and we should tie down anything loose, especially trampolines, and make plans to stay in, especially if you live in a red zone,” said the man to the BBC.
The last red alert was issued in November of last year, which saw powerful winds pound the coast to the east of Scotland and the northeast coast of England.
Before this, a new one hadn’t been issued since the year after the so-called “Beast from the East” caused widespread heavy snow and freezing temperatures to several areas of the UK between February and early March.
BBC Weather presenter Simon King stated that the forecast wind strength for the southern areas of the UK was similar to the Burns’ Day storm of January 1990 that caused massive damage and the severe storms that struck the UK during the winter months of 2013-2014.
Train operators are warning users to avoid travel Fridays and have blanket speed limits imposed on major railroad lines in the nation.
Jake Kelly, from Network Rail Jake Kelly, from Network Rail, explained: “We will be doing everything we can to keep as many services as possible running safely and reliably on Friday, but with such strong winds expected, we know that disruption to passengers’ journeys is inevitable.”
Great Western Railway said it plans to cut half of its services by Friday. The mainline that runs through the south of Wales will be shut down, and benefits will end in Bristol Parkway, while some branches within Devon and Cornwall will also close.
According to the tickets purchased, customers who travel on Friday can choose to travel on Thursday until Monday or request money back.
Network Rail said the disruption was likely to persist throughout the weekend. Tracks were removed from fallen trees.
Highways England advised drivers, especially high-sided lorries, motorcycles, or caravans, to be aware of the weather conditions before taking off, particularly in high-lying and coastal areas.
