Destructive Status Red Storm Éowyn to bring Laois to standstill with schools to shut #stormÉowyn

The Storm Éowyn Status Red Weather Warning is set to bring Laois to a standstill with schools and other services curtailed in response what is expected to be a historic winter storm.

Laois County Council's Severe Weather Assessment Team met on Wednesday, January 22 on foot of a severe weather warning for wind issued by Met Éireann.

Laois is included along with neighbouring counties in a Status Red Wind Warning from 6am on Friday 24.01.2025 until 12pm (noon) on Friday, January 24. A Status Orange Wind Warning will also be in place either side of the red alert and is valid from 2am and will cease at 5pm.

Laois County Council leads the local response weather events such as storm and has appealed to local people to be prepared and take any required measures in advance of the weather warnings taking effect.

The Council is also part of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) which has confirmed that most schools, early learning, childcare services, higher and further education institutions will close for the duration of the Status Red wind warning that is set to hit Laois.

The NECG are advising all people in the areas affected by the warnings to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect both themselves and their properties.

Met Éireann says Storm Eowyn will bring powerful and disruptive winds over Ireland on Thursday night and during Friday along with some transient snowfall in the northwest. Gale to storm force southwest to west winds will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h.

Laois County Council has reminded the public of Met Éireann Storm Éowyn impacts. Read below MET Éireann round up for LAOIS.

• Danger to life
• Extremely dangerous travelling conditions
• Unsafe working conditions
• Disruption and cancellations to transport
• Many fallen trees
• Significant and widespread power outages
• Impacts to communications networks
• Cancellation of event
• Structural damage

It also emphasised key public safety for red wind warning from Met Éireann:

• Red Warnings: the public are advised to not travel in areas where a red level warning is in place and to shelter in place during these times. Essential services operators will continue to operate services subject to advice from Met Éireann on prevailing local conditions.
• Public are advised to be aware of their local forecast and make decisions accordingly. Please check public transport services in areas where a red or orange level warning is in place noting that public transport operators may curtail services based on local conditions. Event organisers should monitor updates from Met Éireann for the duration of Red Wind Warning.
• Strong winds can make driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and high-sided vehicles. Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.
• People are advised to prepare for the arrival of the storm including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
• Driving conditions will be hazardous throughout the period of the weather warnings. Travel is not advised during the Red Wind Warning. Never drive through flooded roads, the depth of the water can be deceiving.
• Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up-to-date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources.

The Council adds that ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999.

The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie about power restoration times.

The council says the public can contact Laois County Council 057 866 400 during normal office hours after which calls will be transferred to the council’s emergency services number.

Emergency services crews will be on standby to respond to 999 calls and the Local Authority roads crews are available and prepared to respond to issues that may arise on the network when it is safe to do so.

Please note the following emergency contact numbers:

1. Emergency 999/112
2. Uisce Éireann 1800 278 278
3. ESB Networks 1800 372 999
4. Gas Networks Ireland 1800 205 050

Met Éireann National Forecast issued at 4.36pm on January 22 for the storm days.

Thursday: A blustery day as a band of squally and possibly thundery rain pushes eastwards across the country during the morning. Sunny spells and scattered thundery showers will follow from the west through the late morning and afternoon with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in a fresh and gusty southerly wind, later veering westerly.

Thursday night: Becoming very stormy on Thursday night. Largely dry early on Thursday night with clear spells and perhaps a touch of frost. However, outbreaks of rain will move in quickly from the Atlantic, extending across much of Munster and Connacht before midnight, before spreading nationwide. The rain will turn to sleet and snow for a time in Connacht and Ulster with the potential for some temporary accumulations causing hazardous travelling conditions. Turning very windy with strong to gale force southeast winds, veering southerly overnight. It will turn extremely windy by dawn on Friday. Lowest temperatures of zero to +4 degrees.

Friday: The centre of Storm Eowyn will track just off the northwest coast on Friday morning with a swathe of extremely strong and damaging winds extending across the country bringing disruption. Gale Force southwest winds over land, will veer westerly by afternoon with Storm Force winds likely in some coastal areas. There'll be scattered squally showers and more persistent rain is likely across the north of the country. Showers will turn increasingly wintry as the day progresses. Maximum afternoon temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees but feeling much colder due to the wind-chill factor. On Friday night, winds will begin to abate but it will stay rather blustery. A cold night with clear spells and scattered showers, some wintry. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees with some frost possible towards dawn on Saturday as winds continue to ease.

Saturday: A cold and frosty start on Saturday with sunny spells and a few wintry showers in the northwest. Later in the morning, an organised band of showers will push in from the Atlantic and extent eastwards across the country giving some wintry falls. Maximum temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds. Cold and frosty on Saturday night with lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees.

Sunday: It looks set to turn wet and windy on Sunday with outbreaks of rain spreading from the south. Maximum temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in strong and gusty south to southeast winds with gales at the coast.

A Status Red is issued when rare and very dangerous weather conditions from intense meteorological phenomena.