THE Scottish Government has urged people to stay indoors tomorrow and to not travel following the red weather warning issued for Storm Éowyn on Friday.
Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, said the Government’s message is “simple” and has urged people to follow the advice from the Met Office and Police Scotland amid the rare weather warning issued on Thursday.
Swinney added that Scots should “take this seriously and stay safe” while he encouraged people to look after themselves and their neighbours.
He added that the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) met on Thursday afternoon to assess measures put in place for the rare red weather alert for Friday.
The group of ministers were joined by representatives from the Met Office, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, SEPA, and transport and utilities companies to plan ahead for Storm Éowyn.
Swinney warned that local services including schools are likely to be “significantly impacted” due to the weather along with potential damage to structures and power distribution.
He said: “The Met Office has, this morning, issued a very rare red weather warning for Storm Éowyn tomorrow. Their advice is clear that potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property, and transport and power disruptions.
“Police Scotland have made it clear that people should not travel in affected areas, and local services including schools are likely to be significantly impacted.
“The government, of course, is ready to respond. SGORR - our resilience and emergency system - was activated this morning to co-ordinate help and to support Scotland's front-line responders, including police fire services and the ambulance service.
“Red weather warnings like this are very rare. Our message is simple, please follow the advice from the Met Office and the police.
“Please look out for each other and your neighbours during this time. Take this seriously and stay safe.”
The First Minister's comments follow an alert which was sent to the mobile phones of millions of Scots by the UK Government warning them of the imminent danger from Storm Eowyn.
An alarm along with an alert message was sent to the mobile phones of Scots in areas which are likely to see serious danger to life at around 5:50pm on Thursday.
Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Head of Police Scotland Road Policing, said: “Our advice throughout the duration of the red weather warning is not to travel, as the conditions outside and on the road network could be extremely hazardous and put you at risk.
“Please keep tuning into media broadcasts and following updates from Traffic Scotland and Police Scotland until the weather has improved.”
Storm Éowyn is expected to bring winds of up to 90mph.
The Met Office has warned that significant disruption to travel is expected while people have also been warned of the potential for power cuts and a “danger to life” from flying debris, large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes.
The red warning will be in place from 10am until 5pm on Friday, January 24.
Met Office chief meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said some parts of Scotland’s coast could face winds of up to 100mph.
He said: “We reserve the issuing of Red Warnings for the most severe weather which represents a likely danger to life and severe disruption, and that is the case with Storm Éowyn.
“While it will be widely very windy on Friday, with additional hazards from rain and snow, the strongest winds and most significant impacts are likely in Northern Ireland and central and southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.
“Storm Éowyn is a multi-hazard event, with snow likely for some, rain for many and strong winds for much of the UK. As a result, a number of weather warnings have been issued, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.”
