UK storm: Rare ‘red’ warning for wind affects rail, road and air travel

The UK is braced for more travel disruption this week with a second storm due to hit early tomorrow morning (18 February).

Storm Eunice has been upgraded to a ‘red’ warning for parts of southwest England and south Wales. This is the highest level in the Met Office’s ranking of weather warnings, meaning there is a threat to life from flying debris.

An amber warning remains in place for much of the rest of Wales and England as far north as Manchester. But people across the country are being urged to avoid travelling, with London North Easter Railway (LNER) telling passengers not to go between London, York and Leeds on Friday.

The most exposed coastal areas could see gusts of over 90 mph, while those in amber areas could also be pummelled by winds of 70 to 80 mph, the Met Office said in an update this morning.

It comes fast in the wake of Storm Dudley, which brought chaos to roads, rail and ferry services across northern England and Scotland on 16 February and has left thousands without power.

Felled trees and flying objects created a particular hazard for train drivers - with a trampoline obstructing one train for two hours outside Cardiff Central station.

The rare red warning is currently in force from 7am until 12pm on Friday. It is only the third such wind warning to be issued since March 2018. While the amber warning runs from 5am until 9pm. Both are subject to change so it’s worth checking the Met Office for the latest forecast.

There is also a yellow warning for wind from Belfast to Newcastle, and a yellow warning for snow in Northern Ireland, northern England and southern Scotland, signalling that rail and air travel could be disrupted here too.

If you’re planning on travelling by train over the next couple of days then