Hundreds of schools to close as UK braces for Eunice

Vida McShaneCopyright: Vida McShane

Louis, 10, and Rina, 6, from London, said they were disappointed by the fact their half-term holiday in York has been cut short due to Storm Eunice.

Their mother Vida said: The kids have had enough disappointment over the years and some of the activities we planned, we can't do."

The family were due to come back on Friday evening, but caught the train home tonight after they were advised not to do so.

"We debated whether to extend our stay, but we were too worried that travel might be disrupted on the weekend," husband Richard added.

The siblings were looking forward to swimming and a chocolate tour experience in York, but will now spend their time at home playing board games.

Snow is forecast for most of mainland Scotland on Friday, south of Inverness and Fort William and is expected to fall between 03:00 GMT and 18:00.

A wind warning is also in place for the south-west Scottish borders, including most of Dumfries and Galloway.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney urged everyone to follow "all advice and only travel if safe to so do".

With more than 20cm of snow predicted on higher ground and 5cm elsewhere, Scottish Mountain Rescue warned there was a risk of "dangerous conditions" including the possibility of avalanches.

Strong winds and high tides are the main concerns as Storm Eunice approaches, but there are also a string of flood warnings in place across the UK.

In all there are 10 severe flood warnings and 26 flood warnings, many covering the River Severn, particularly the lower reaches of it.

Upstream, flood barriers are up in Shrewsbury and Bewdley.

BBCCopyright: BBC

At Beale's Corner in Bewdley, extra defences are going up. The Environment Agency said the frames were installed, but the plates and sheeting would be added once the high winds of Storm Eunice had passed.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Red weather warnings are rarely issued by the Met Office, with the last one coinciding with Storm Arwen in November 2021.

The last time it issued a red warning for wind - like it has for Friday - was in March 2018.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders described Storm Eunice as one of the "most impactful storms" to hit southern and central parts of the UK in years.

Lisa Heywood, 42, runs the Blue Anchor House holiday apartments in Somerset and says Storm Eunice has already cost her more than £1,000 in cancelled bookings and additional costs.

Lisa HeywoodCopyright: Lisa Heywood

“We didn’t realise how windy it was when we first came here in May last year, any storm we’ve had just whirls around the house," she tells the BBC.

“I was really worried about the hot tub lids because, during the storm we had yesterday, they were lifting up and I thought they were not going to stay in place overnight.

“I went to Travis Perkins to buy more cement bags and have placed them on anything I couldn’t bring inside.

“I’ve had two cancellations this weekend and someone who was meant to be checking out tomorrow has checked out tonight, because they think it may be too dangerous to travel on Friday."

Lisa says she has equipped other guests who are staying with candles and torches and told them to call her with any problems.

Here is BBC Weather's Chris Fawkes with the forecast for the next 24 hours.

As much of the UK prepares for Storm Eunice to make landfall overnight, here's a reminder of the latest developments so far:

• A red weather warning - the highest level - is in place for parts of south Wales and south-west England from 07:00 GMT on Friday until midday
• Major incidents have been declared in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Avon, Somerset and Hampshire
• A lower amber warning for wind remains in place for the rest of Wales and most of England as far north as Manchester, from 05:00 until 21:00 tomorrow
• Met Éireann, the Irish national weather service, has also issued a red storm warning for Cork and Kerry for Friday
• The Met Office says Storm Eunice could bring gusts of up to 90mph, causing significant disruption and power cuts
• All train services in Wales have been suspended on Friday, while rail companies are urging other customers not to travel, with blanket speed restrictions set to be imposed on the main rail lines across the country
• Great Western Railway said it expected to cut half of its services on Friday. The mainline in south Wales will be closed, with services terminating at Bristol Parkway, while some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall will also close
• West Midlands Railway has issued a "do not travel" warning for Friday and says there will be a "significantly reduced" service.
• National Highways urged drivers, particularly those driving high-sided lorries, caravans and motorcycles, to check the weather before setting off, especially in coastal and high-lying areas
• Hundreds of schools will close in affected areas as precautions are taken to avoid the worst of the storm
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Army is "on standby" to support those affected

Cassie RavenscroftCopyright: Cassie Ravenscroft

Cassie Ravenscroft and her husband Dave, who both live in London, were hoping to fly to Zurich for their honeymoon skiing holiday on Friday morning, but the coming storm has meant their flight has been cancelled.

"I'm really frustrated because we haven't been on holiday for two years," 34-year-old Mrs Ravenscroft says.

"We’ve been worrying about Covid and self-isolated this week, and a storm is potentially ruining our holiday plans."

She says frustrations have mounted further after their wedding was pushed back by a year to October 2020 due to coronavirus restrictions, adding: "It feels like we can’t do anything we want to - it's the one holiday you really want to work out."

The couple have decided to take the risk of rebooking their flight for tomorrow afternoon.

"It feels like a risk booking something for tomorrow but that’s losing whole days of skiing," she says.

"We’re losing the days and we’re already paid for the hotel if we’re not going to get there in time."

"It’s an anxious wait now."

Many schools across south Wales have confirmed their closure on Friday - including those in Caerphilly.

As a result, Christina Harrhy, chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council, says council staff have been queuing up to deliver free school meals to pupils' homes.

It might be best to avoid long bridges tomorrow.

The Humber Bridge, between East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, could be closed due to Storm Eunice's strong winds.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Drivers have been asked to avoid the bridge "unless completely necessary" due to forecast 80 mph+ gusts.

The 1.4-mile-long (2.2km) suspension bridge runs high over the broad estuary between the two counties and "might have to close completely", the bridge board said.

Crossings can be hazardous in strong winds on the bridge that opened in 1981.

Bridge staff are due to post social media updates for users on Friday about any potential closure.

The M48 Severn Bridge will be closed from around 23:00 GMT as the UK braces for Storm Eunice, says National Highways senior network planner, Frank Bird.

"Our focus now is the last minute preparations," he tells the BBC.

"The M48 - which is the old Severn crossing will be closed for safety reasons because we’re expected the wind to whip up the Severn Estuary."

BBCCopyright: BBC

He warns that the M4 crossing of the Severn into Wales is also likely to be closed later this evening.

"We just think it’s too risky to allow high-sided vehicles, cars with caravans and roof boxes - and motorcycles - to use either of those two Severn crossings," he explains.

"If you don’t have to travel tomorrow and you can put it off until Saturday then we would really urge you to do that.

"We know the wind is going to swing round tomorrow and strengthen.

"The wind is going to come through the country during the day time – generally the last five or six storm that we’ve had have predominantly been overnight when people have been at home and they’ve battened down the hatches and there ‘s been a lot less traffic around."

Michelle DuffyCopyright: Michelle Duffy

Schools in nine counties in the Republic of Ireland will be closed tomorrow after Irish Meteorological Service Met Eireann issued a red wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford.

Those living in the worst-affected areas have been advised to remain indoors for the duration of the storm, expected to be from just after midnight.

An orange snow warning has also been issued for several counties in the north and west, including Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.

The storm is expected to be powerful but relatively short across Ireland, but is expected to leave a trail of destruction including fallen trees, power outages and coastal flooding.

Bus services will not operate during the red warning - Irish Rail will operate provided there is no damage to tracks.

Tommy Ryan from the County and City Management Association says crews are on standby, as well as Civil Defence if necessary.

The Irish Coast Guard has appealed to fishermen and mariners to be "mindful" of the dangerous conditions, with walkers and sightseers also urged to avoid seafronts and cliff edges.

The Met Eireann storm warning for Kerry, Cork and Clare comes into effect at 03:00 GMT on Friday until 08:00.

The alert for Waterford begins at 07:00 and will stay in place until 11:00.

Read more here.

We heard earlier that outpatient hospital appointments had been cancelled in Cornwall.

A similar move has been made in the Swansea Bay area, where all non-urgent face-to-face appointments, including district nursing, GP, dental and blood testing appointments will be cancelled on Friday.

But digital consultations will continue, Swansea Bay University Health Board says.

Patients will be contacted as soon as possible to rearrange appointments.

All Covid testing and vaccination centres will also be closed.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Sitting 28 miles south west of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly will be the in the eye of Storm Eunice on Friday morning.

Residents of the five inhabited islands have been making preparations.

• The secondary school and all primary schools have been closed for Friday, and boating suspended.
• St Mary’s harbour is closing for two hours either side of high tide, and several shops have announced they will not be opening.
• The island milk round was also brought forward by 24 hours in a “rare decision” to “protect our milkmen”.
• The Isles of Scilly Council is urging everyone “not to travel and to avoid going outside” between 07:00 and 12:00 on Friday.
• The Environment Agency advises that flooding is expected on all of the islands, with tide levels and sea conditions "likely to cause impacts including damage and flooding to property".

All outpatient appointments have been cancelled at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro on Friday "to keep people safe during the storm," says an NHS Kernow clinical commissioning group.

It says the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is asking anyone with an outpatient appointment not to travel to the hospital tomorrow.

"Someone will call them to rearrange their appointment," it adds.

The announcement comes after the Met Office declared a major incident in Cornwall ahead of Storm Eunice.

BBCCopyright: BBC

People in two towns on the north Cornish coast are among those preparing for Storm Eunice, expected to arrive on Friday morning.

In St Ives, fisherman Roger Trevorrow said has taken the engine off his boat "in case it sinks".

He said: "As long as people take notice of what the warnings are, don't take any risks on the quay and don't get washed away. Life is more precious than [taking] a photograph."

At the Lifeboat Inn beside the harbour, landlady Becky Hall has been putting flood defence boards along the front of the pub.

"It just hopefully stops the sea coming in," she says.

About 20 miles up the coast, in Perranporth, the RNLI has been giving advice to people, and telling them to keep out of the water, and away from the cliffs.

A number of businesses near the popular beach have been putting out sandbags in readiness.

For Dan Hughes, this is the first major winter storm since he took over No.4 Breakfast and Bistro in October, and he said it is "quite worrying".

"The previous owners weren't told and got flooded in their first year, without any warning at all," he said.

"Luckily they have warned us and we have bought all the flood protection so we have just got to put it in place."

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

With Storm Eunice approaching, Northern Powergrid says it has only just reconnected electricity supplies for the 20,000 customers who lost power during Storm Dudley.

The distribution firm, which covers the north east of England says it is a case of "good news... bad news" with winds of 60 to 70 mph on Saturday coupled with snow likely to cause "further disruption to power supplies".

It also warns people not to approach damaged power lines.

@ROISSONWYECOPS/PAMEDIACopyright: @ROISSONWYECOPS/PAMEDIA

Parts of the UK are still recovering from Storm Dudley on Wednesday, as its successor Storm Eunice is forecast to bring even more disruption and damage on Friday.

Thousands of people were left without power after Storm Dudley hit parts of the North East, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Previous examples of storms forming in quick succession:

• In September 2018, Storm Ali brought damaging, disruptive winds in Northern Ireland, Scotland, northern England and parts of north Wales, followed the next day by Storm Bronagh, which caused flooding to parts of Wales and the north of England.
• The 'Great Storm' of 1987 brought extreme damage to southeast England, and was followed two days later by another storm with winds of more than 80mph.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

A number of councils are taking extra steps to shelter homeless people due to the severe weather forecast.

With Storm Eunice approaching, some local authorities have activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.

This usually only happens when temperatures drop below freezing - when weather conditions are considered a threat to their lives.

It means that shelters will open from Thursday evening.

The announcements have been made by the Mayor of London and a number of local authorities including:

• Cornwall Council
• Breckland Council near Norfolk
• Stoke-On-Trent City Council
• Medway Council
• Stratford District Council
• Cheltenham Borough Council
• All Worcestershire districts