JOHN Swinney has said he will chair a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room after a rare red weather warning was issued.
The Met Office issued the alert with Storm Eowyn set to bring winds of up to 90mph to Scotland.
Before starting FMQs on Wednesday, the First Minister made a statement on the weather.
Red weather warnings have been issued with #StormÉowyn forecast to bring disruptive winds as well as heavy rain and snow for some on Friday. Find out more in our latest news release 👇
— Met Office (@metoffice) January 23, 2025
The Resilience Room is the emergency and crisis response facility of the Scottish Government which is used in times of serious emergency.
Swinney said: “The Met Office has this morning issued a very rare red weather warning for Storm Eowyn tomorrow.
“The warning covers parts of Dumfries and Galloway and of the Scottish Borders, all of Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders, the Forth Valley and southern parts of Fife.
“The red weather warning is expected to begin at 10am tomorrow morning and last until 5pm tomorrow evening.
“A wider amber warning for high winds across the whole country and a yellow warning for snow in some parts also still remain in place.”
Swinney continued: “The storm could bring winds of up to 100mph. The Met Office advice is clear. The potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property and transport and power disruptions.
“We have to be clear. People should not travel and Police Scotland will issue a formal do not travel advisory notice shortly.
“Councils will make decisions today on school closures. The Government of course is ready to respond.
“Our resilience and emergency system was activate this morning to co-ordinate help and to support Scotland’s frontline responders.
“I will chair a meeting of the Resilience Room shortly after FMQs today and further advice will be issued to the public.”
Swinney once again stressed how rare red weather warnings are as he once again urged people to “stay safe” and take the warning seriously.
Elsewhere, Police Scotland have also warned people not to travel during the period of the red weather warning.
Police Scotland urging at least a million Scots not to travel during red Met Office #StormEowyn alert tomorrow. Force warning drivers’ lives will be at risk if they choose to use road network in impacted areas. Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan⬇️ @LBCNews | @LBC pic.twitter.com/AyeIVnoppm
— Alan Zycinski (@AlanJZycinski) January 23, 2025
Speaking to LBC, Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan said: "So the advice is for road users not to travel. That's basically it. It's as simple as that during the period of the red weather warning for road users not to travel."
She added that "significant" disruption is to be expected and that Police Scotland was working with partners to prepare for this, saying there would be a "danger to life" if people were to travel.
