Storm shuts down transit and schools in Ireland & Scotland

Around 4.5 million residents in Scotland and Northern Ireland received phone warnings about Storm Éowyn, expected to hit the British Isles on Friday, as reported by AFP. BBC mentions authorities’ warnings of the life-threatening nature of venturing out during the storm. The mobile warnings sent represent the most extensive use, to date, of Britain’s emergency alert system. AFP forecasts indicate winds could reach speeds up to 130 km/h, with rain and snow expected in certain areas. In Ireland, an emergency coordinator, Keith Leonard, expects a dangerous storm, prompting meteorologists to issue a red alert—the first since 2017’s Storm Ophelia that killed three people. Public transportation will not operate Friday, and schools will remain closed in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Edinburgh’s Scottish parliament will only be open for essential staff.