Storm Eunice delivered England’s highest winds ever, with much of the UK under a “danger to life” red alert, as the London airport closed, the O2 Arena torn open, other damage, power outages, and at least one person dead.
Back-to-back storms pummel the UK
Back-to-back storms are battering the UK. The BBC reported that storm Dudley took out a power line that fell on a kennel in North Yorkshire and killed 13 dogs on Wednesday night.
The BBC weather warned storm Eunice “could well be one of the worst storms in three decades,” and it appears their predictions may be accurate.
Red alerts: Danger-to-life warnings issued
The Met Office issued a rare red weather warning, indicating a “danger to life” caused by gale-force winds.
A second red warning was issued for southeast England, east England, and London from 10 am on Friday.
On Thursday into Friday, Storm Eunice was well on its way to becoming a historic weather disaster for the UK.
A falling tree killed at least one man, seven bridges have been closed, and one woman was rescued as waves swept her from the shore and pulled her down in the furious backwash and undertow.
Eunice brings destruction and disruptions
Webcams captured the ferocity of storm Eunice across the UK:
- Semi-trucks (called a lorry in the UK) toppled on roadways, the postponement of flights, a complete shutdown of London airport, disruption of travel services, trees toppled.
- Roofs were torn off of homes, damage to the O2 Arena.
- Power outages, iTV and the Express reported.
Hundreds of schools have also been closed.
According to the Express, London city airport canceled all flights in and out of the capital; several flights were canceled from Heathrow. Widespread gusts between 60-70 mph were expected, and up to 100 mph in some areas.
Eunice delivers severe damage to London’s O2 Arena
Videos on social media captured the damage to the O2 Arena in Greenwich wrought by storm Eunice, which ripped parts of the venue open, leaving a vast, gaping hole, My London News reported.
Highest winds in English history: 122 mph
Eunice has delivered the strongest winds ever recorded in England, according to a provisional Met Office analysis, The Express reported.
On Friday morning, the Met office recorded wind gusts up to 122 mph at the Needles on the Isle of Wight. This reading has surpassed the strongest winds ever reported in England, which occurred in the so-called “great storm” of October 15, 1987, when the winds peaked at 115 mph in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. At least 18 people died in the 1987 storm.
Hurricane-force winds?
In the United States, a measurement on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which uses a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed. This would rate the UK 122 mph speed as a Category 3, the same as a major hurricane.
A category 3 is wind speeds between 111-129 mph. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), such speeds cause “devastating” damage, which includes: “Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking, and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.”
Can a UK storm be considered a hurricane?
No storm in the UK will ever qualify as a hurricane, according to the Met office, iNews reports.
Any storm that reaches wind speeds of 74 mph or higher would be classified as a hurricane in the US. However, by definition, hurricanes have to originate in the tropics.
