Weather forecasters at the Met Office have advised members of the public not to go outside today, but some would-be fliers have had their travel decisions made for them
Storm Eowyn has halted hundreds of flights today as extreme, life-threatening 100mph winds batter the UK.
The historic system made landfall in the country this morning after angrily swirling in the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland earlier this week, but barely weakened as it made its way inland. Weather forecasters have issued red weather warnings for dozens of areas, and pictures have shown the extreme winds throwing trees and blowing over buildings in their path.
As the Met Office advises people to avoid going outside, some Brits have had their travel plans made for them, with airports being forced to cancel hundreds of UK flights. More than 300 flights have been axed since Eowyn made landfall, and some airports won’t schedule departures or arrival at all as the storm rages.
Tens of thousands of Brits won’t be able to take previously scheduled flights today thanks to Eowyn, which has forced flight authorities to cancel any and all flights at Edinburgh Airport until 5pm today. The city is one of the worst-hit in the UK, with gusts reaching speeds of 80mph and over early this morning, and forecasters warn they are set to remain dangerous into the evening.
The airport said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, that airline schedules will remain “subject to change” into the evening, after the cancellation bloc expires.
The statement read: “No flights will operate during the red weather warning between 1000 and 1700. Airline schedules will be subject to change tonight and in the days to come so please continue to check with your airline for the latest information.”
The post added that 136 flights were due to depart and 124 scheduled to arrive, but the schedule has meant that only 45 will now depart and 57 will arrive, with just 14,500 people travelling today. The total is a massive 13,500 people fewer than the 28,000 who were originally due to travel from Edinburgh by plane.
According to FlightRadar 24, which tracks flights entering and departing the UK, at least 334 flights have been cancelled today across the UK. The storm has caused additional cancellations at airports in London, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Belfast, with the latter three cities included in the Met Office red warnings.
The cancellations are expected to impact up to 50,000 people, primarily people in the red warning areas who have already been warned not to leave home. Met Office officials have advised people to “keep yourself and others safe” and avoid travelling by road or going outside while Eowyn rages outside.
People who decide to brave the conditions could be left “vulnerable to injury”, with the agency stating there is a danger to life from flying debris.
