Why Storm Eowyn is so dangerous amid record-breaking 114mph winds

The “life-threatening” Storm Eowyn has battered the UK today as a number of weather warnings are in place.

Experts warn the explosive "bomb cyclone" will bring deadly winds, heavy rain and snow and is expected to cause widespread disruption across the UK. A wind speed of 114mph brought by Storm Eowyn has been recorded in Ireland, the fastest since records began, forecaster Met Eireann said.

The fifth named storm of the season is set to be the worst so far, with the Met Office issuing rare red weather warnings across Northern Ireland and Scotland. Much of the UK also has amber warnings in place.

As gale force winds hit the country throughout Friday (January 24) and into the weekend, hundreds of schools have closed in preparation, with many rail services and flights halted.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Storm Éowyn is a multi-hazard event, with snow likely for some, rain for many and strong winds for much of the UK. As a result, a number of weather warnings have been issued, with all parts of the UK covered by one warning at some point on Friday.

“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 southwestern parts of Scotland within the Red Warning areas, where winds could gust 80-90 mph quite widely for a time, and potentially up to 100 mph for exposed coasts in particular.”

Storm Eowyn is caused by a band of strong winds at the top of the atmosphere called the jetstream. The stream blows from west to east, directing storms across the Atlantic to the UK.

Experts warn that the storm is “explosively developing” and intensifying at an exceptional rate as it moves