London gets red weather warning as students urged to stay at home
Winds of up to 90 mph are expected as Storm Eunice hits the nation.
Image from Nev Rimes on flickr
A red weather warning – the highest issued by the Met Office – means the event is highly likely to occur and will have a very strong impact. There is a risk to human life, travel and infrastructure. Winds will be strong enough to damage power lines causing power outages, uproot trees and carry debris.
UCL has sent out an email urging students not to make unnecessary journeys and to ‘take extra care’ – in line with the Met Office’s and the government’s message for the general public. Additionally, some parts of campus, such as the SSEES library, have announced they will not be open during this period to protect staff and students.
To secure your own home, make sure all windows are closed and any free standing objects on balconies or in gardens are either brought in or secured. Do not travel or leave home unless absolutely necessary. Keep a lookout for updates from the Met Office and government before resuming daily life.
“I urge all Londoners to stay at home, do not take risks, and do not travel unless it is absolutely essential”, urged Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, in a tweet written this morning.
The storm has led to the cancellation of flights & trains, the closing of COVID -19 test centres, and troops being stationed around the country in preparation for recovery.
The most major damage seen in London thus far has been the destruction of the O2 arena’s roof. The 20,000 capacity venue, known for hosting sporting and music events, was pictured with multiple sections of its canvas roof missing.
There have also been reports of serious injuries, trees being toppled and power cuts in the city. Seven London Underground lines have been closed and overground trains entering and leaving London are cancelled.
The Met Office has announced wind speeds reached 122mph in the South West of England - expected to be the highest ever reached in England.
The government will hold a Cobra meeting in regards to the weather warnings given. Such meetings are only held to deal with issues of ‘national emergency or major disruption’. They will discuss what can be done to mitigate the impacts of Storm Eunice- a storm some predict could become the most powerful and dangerous storm seen in England in the last 3 decades.
This all comes after a number of severe weather events elsewhere in the British Isles have caused power outages and other infrastructural damages, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. Storm Dudley caused major damage to ScotRail services only in the last week. Thousands of homes have been left without power from Storm Eunice in Ireland. Some have begun to speculate that these events may be linked to climate change, but this is not yet clear.