Nearly five million Britons have received a government emergency alert on their phones this evening in the ‘largest real life use of the tool to date’ as Storm Eowynis set to batter the country.
The Met Office issued dire warnings for ‘exceptional’ hurricane-force winds, with the worst of Storm Eowyn expected to strike from the early hours of Friday across Scotland and Northern Ireland, where winds could reach up to 100mph.
Forecasters say flying debris could result in danger to life and ‘very dangerous’ driving conditions because of fallen trees. They have even warned pet owners to keep their dogs on leads amid fears they could be swept away by strong waves on the coast.
People across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland in the path of the storm have received emergency alerts on their phones tonight.
The alert played a loud siren sound for 10 seconds, even on phones which were on silent, and included information about the weather warnings and advice on how to stay safe.
‘It’s getting a bit scary now,’ one said. ‘Almost died of heart failure’ another posted.
It is the largest real-life use of the emergency alert system in UK history.
The alert system has only been used four times previously since it launched in 2023.
The most recent time it was used by the Environment Agency was on January 6, 2025 to warn people in Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire that the River Soar was likely to flood and cut the area off.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: ‘The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind on Friday 24th January, meaning there is a danger to life across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
‘In light of the deteriorating weather conditions and associated disruption, and in consultation with the Scottish government and Northern Ireland executive, the Cabinet Office will issue emergency alerts early this evening to people affected by the warnings in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
‘The emergency alert system will send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the areas at most risk, containing information about the weather warnings and guidance on how to stay safe.
‘Mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent. The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.
‘Approximately 4.5 million people will receive the emergency alert in the largest real-life use of the tool to date.
‘The UK Government has well-rehearsed plans in place for severe winter weather and is working with teams from devolved governments, local authorities, the emergency services and other public bodies to coordinate the response to any disruption.’
Those who received the alert posted on social media about how much the sound of it shocked them.
It comes as a suspected mini tornado left behind a trail of destruction in Cornwall, blowing down trees, smashing cars and tearing down roofs.
Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, this could be the storm of the century, BBC Weather said. Irish forecasters have already issued blanket red weather warnings covering all of the country for gales in excess of 80mph.
But forecasters are predicting that gusts could even reach up to 140mph on the west coast of Ireland and up to 110mph in the Western Isles of Scotland tomorrow.
The season’s fifth named storm could be so bad that BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston said: ‘This is one major storm. I’ve not seen anything like it in my career.’
The system is intended for use in major incidents of ‘severe danger’ such as flooding or terror attacks.
The emergency alert system was launched on 19 March 2023, and tested on a nationwide basis for the first time on 23 April 2023.
On 23 February 2024, the system’s first non-test alert was sent to residents of Plymouth advising them to evacuate an area of the city due to the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in the back garden of a property.
The system sends a notification, along with a 10-second siren sound and a vibration, to mobile phones when there is an emergency that people need to be warned about.
Another weather expert warned that Storm Eowyn could bring the lowest pressure to Scotland since 1982, making it one of the ‘most intense’ storms to hit the country in recent history.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney told the country’s Parliament on Thursday that people in areas covered by the red weather warning should not travel, while Stormont’s Education Minister Paul Givan said the Education Authority had advised all schools in Northern Ireland to close on Friday.
The warning is in place in Northern Ireland from 7am to 2pm on Friday, and in parts of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.
Mr Givan said: ‘I understand this will impact on the work of schools and indeed on other businesses and services, but the decision has been taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children and young people as well as staff.
‘Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home.’
A total of 19 local authorities in Scotland have now announced all schools in their areas will be closed because of Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Stirling, Falkirk and Angus councils all announced via social media that their schools would be shut, with the red weather warning due to come into effect at 10am on Friday.
TODAY
Yellow – Wind (7am-6pm)
TOMORROW
Red – Wind (7am-2pm)
Red – Wind (10am-5pm)
Amber – Wind (6am-9pm)
Yellow – Wind (12am-11.59pm)
Yellow – Wind (5am-3pm)
Yellow – Rain (12am-9am)
Yellow – Snow (3am-12pm)
SATURDAY
Yellow – Wind (12am-3pm)
They join Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, Fife, North and South Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian, East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute and Clackmannanshire councils, which have said all schools and nurseries will be closed.
Amber weather warnings for wind have been issued for northern England from 6am until 9pm, and a yellow weather warning covers most of southern England for the whole of Friday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said on Thursday: ‘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 Eowyn.
‘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 south-western parts of Scotland within the red warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100mph for exposed coasts in particular.’
The AA has issued updated advice to people travelling in areas covered by the red weather warning.
Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, said: ‘As the warning has risen from amber to red in the most northern and western areas of the UK, we urge drivers to consider whether their journey is necessary and if not, postpone
‘If you do need to travel, make sure you’re prepared for what you may encounter. Expect to come across fallen branches and other debris on the roads, especially in rural areas.
‘Allow extra time for your journey, as it’s likely to take longer than usual. Pack the essentials for emergencies in case you do break down – warm waterproof clothing, a torch and a flask of hot drink.
‘Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and download the AA app and what3words to help us get to you faster if the worst should happen.’
Earlier today it was reported that parts of the UK could be brought to a standstill as the country is battered by ‘exceptional’ hurricane-force winds, torrential rain and heavy snow tomorrow.
Storm Eowyn could also spark travel hell, with Network Rail warning it is expected to bring ‘the strongest winds in a decade’ – as commuters were told to avoid travelling in parts of the north of the UK tomorrow.
Forecasters are warning of flying debris resulting in danger to life, as well as ‘very dangerous’ driving conditions because of fallen trees. There may also be power cuts, damage to buildings and homes, and delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights.
This also marks the first red weather warning issued for Northern Ireland since the Met Office moved to impact-based warnings in 2011.
STV meteorologist Sean Batty warned the storm could be one of the worst to hit Scotland since Hurricane ‘Bawbag’ (official name Friedhelm) in 2011.
But just weeks later, in January 2012, an even more powerful storm swept through central Scotland, leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
He said: ‘When it comes to storm intensity, we’d use central pressure to assess how powerful this storm is and ‘Bawbag’ reached a low pressure centre of 945mb over the Western Isles, the lowest pressure recorded in the UK since January 2000.
‘Even though the winds were stronger in the January 2012 storm, the intensity of the low wasn’t quite as strong as the one in December with a pressure recording of 952mb.
‘Currently it looks like Eowyn could see pressure drop to just below 940mb close to Tiree on Friday morning which could be the deepest storm centre recorded in the UK since a major storm in 1982 saw pressure drop to 937mb in Stornoway.’