Explainer

Storm Eunice: Flights grounded, trains cancelled and roads closed - disruption caused by storm

People have been warned not to travel unless it's urgent, with Storm Eunice forecast to hit the UK with gusts of almost 100mph.

A fallen branch on a car in a car park in Lyme Regis, west Dorset, as Storm Eunice hits the south coast, with attractions closing, travel disruption and a major incident declared in some areas, meaning people are warned to stay indoors. A rare red weather warning - the highest alert, meaning a high impact is very likely - has been issued by the Met Office due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge. Picture date: Friday February 18, 2022.
Image: A fallen branch on a car in a car park in Lyme Regis, west Dorset
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Two red weather warnings have been issued as Storm Eunice hits the UK, with gusts expected to reach 100mph.

The warnings cover the west of England and southern Wales, as well as the east of England including London.

It comes as parts of the country are still recovering from power cuts caused by Storm Dudley.

'All trains cancelled' - follow latest updates

A sign at Maidenhead station shows cancelled trains after Storm Eunice hit the south coast, with attractions closing, travel disruption and a major incident declared in some areas urging people to stay indoors. Picture date: Friday February 18, 2022.
Image: A sign at Maidenhead station shows cancelled trains after Storm Eunice

Below is a list of some of the things that will be affected by the weather today:

Transport

  • Britain's rail industry has issued a blanket "do not travel" warning to passengers, while National Rail has confirmed that TfL Rail has suspended all services
  • At least 65 flights arriving and departing Heathrow Airport have been cancelled and a further 114 delayed by more than 15 minutes, according to aviation data provider FlightStats by Cirium. There were 17 planned cancellations and two live cancellations at Gatwick, with 67 delayed flights
  • EasyJet has cancelled a "small number of flights" from UK airports due to strong winds
  • National Highways has published a list of roads that should not be used by high-sided or vulnerable vehicles. You can see those here
  • Network Rail said a fallen tree around 50ft (15m) long at Ewell West, Surrey, is blocking the line between London Waterloo and Dorking, Surrey. It is affecting South Western Railway services
  • All trains in Wales have been cancelled. The disruption is likely to continue into the weekend, with more than 1,000 miles of track to be checked and cleared of debris
  • There are no blanket cancellations on flights in the UK, but Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham, and East Midlands Airport asked passengers to check their flight status with their airline
  • DFDS and P&O Ferries have suspended their Dover to Calais ferries. The Port of Dover announced that it is temporarily closed to shipping and said it reopened on Friday afternoon
  • The M48 Severn Bridge between England and Wales is closed in both directions between junctions one and two due to strong winds
  • The Orwell Bridge in Suffolk on the A14 was closed in both directions with the Dartford Crossing joining it in shutting
  • ScotRail says Edinburgh/Glasgow Queen Street to Arbroath services will start and terminate at Dundee
  • Glasgow and Edinburgh trains to Arbroath and Montrose to Aberdeen services will not run
  • The M5 northbound carriageway in Somerset is closed between J23 at Puriton and J22 at Edithmead due to an overturned lorry
Handout image from the Twitter feed of @RossonWyeCops of a small tree blown into the road at Three Crosses in Ross-on-Wye during Storm Dudley. The storm will hit the north of England/southern Scotland from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, closely followed by Storm Eunice, which will bring strong winds and the possibility of snow on Friday. Picture date: Wednesday February 16, 2022.
Image: Some roads are closed due to the wind - or the consequences of the wind, such as falling debris

Schools

Many schools across England are already closed due to the half term holidays.

  • If you are in England or Wales, you can check your local school by typing in your postcode here
  • Several schools in Devon, Dorset, Herefordshire, and Isle of Wight have closed, along with some schools in Suffolk and Oxfordshire
  • Many schools have been forced to close in Wales. Cardiff, Ceredigion, Bridgend County, Swansea, Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils have announced all schools will remain shut, while some schools in Newport will shut
  • Bristol City Council announced that all schools are closed
  • In Somerset, all schools, colleges and other council services are shut. All waste collections have been suspended with recycling centres and libraries closed
  • The only primary school on the Isles of Scilly is closed, after the Five Islands Academy was advised to shut down by the police
  • Dozens of schools in Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham are shut and schools in Anglesey, North Wales have also remained closed
  • Dozens of schools across Cornwall closed on Friday morning, while the county's household waste recycling centres will also be shut
Image: The Met Office weather warnings heading in to Friday

Attractions

  • Tonight's only televised English football match has been postponed, with Bournemouth issuing a statement that explains damage to the Vitality Stadium has forced them to call off their tie against Nottingham Forest
  • London's O2 arena has been shut after parts of its roof were ripped off in high winds
  • The Prince of Wales has cancelled a planned visit to Newport and Swansea as a result of the forecast
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, west London and Wakehurst, West Sussex, is shut
  • Chester Zoo and Legoland in Windsor is shut. Anyone who was due to visit will be contacted to rebook
  • Windsor Great Park, Richmond, Bushy and Greenwich Parks, and National Trust sites including Polesden Lacey in Surrey are all closed. Other royal parks will be open but playgrounds will be shut
  • The London Eye and River Cruise have temporarily shut
  • Cardiff Crown Court and Newport Crown Court is closed
  • Warwick Castle is closed due to the "high likelihood" of travel disruption and the "vast coverage" of trees throughout the attraction
  • Hampshire County Council has confirmed the closure of all the council-run country parks
  • Blickling Estate in Norfolk will be closed on Friday and Saturday
  • Many National Trust properties and gardens are closed. These include Stowe Gardens and New Inn in Buckinghamshire, Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey, Petworth House and Gardens in West Sussex, Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, and Basildon Park in Berkshire
  • Marwell Zoo near Winchester and Monkey World in Dorset is shut
  • Piers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are closed, but the Twin Sails and Poole Bridge will operate a revised lifting schedule. Refuse, recycling and cleansing collections will be suspended, as well as recycling centres
  • Chessington World of Adventures, Newquay Zoo, The National Holocaust Centre and Museum and The Royal Mint Experience are closed
  • Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire has closed and anyone who had a ticket will receive a full refund. The park hopes to reopen on Saturday, weather permitting
  • Officials from Hampstead Heath in London announced several local attractions are closed, including the Lido, Bathing Ponds, Golders Hill Park, the Hill Garden and Pergola, Highgate Wood, Keats House and playgrounds