Storm Éowyn: Number of closures announced across Derry due to safety concerns

Schools, businesses and a host of other services across Derry have announced they closed due to Storm Éowyn.

The Met Office has issued a red alert, which covers all of Northern Ireland from 7am on Friday until 2pm, and is warning of “very dangerous conditions” and “widespread disruption”.

It is anticipated that this storm will bring the strongest winds experienced in Northern Ireland since the 1998 Boxing Day storms which caused widespread damage across infrastructure and impacted on almost all public services.

Northern Ireland’s leaders have urged the public to stay at home ahead of expected severe weather in the region across Friday.

Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly spoke to media at Stormont following a meeting of the Executive on Thursday morning.

Ms O’Neill said: “It’s important to emphasise that a red warning is very serious, it’s only used whenever there is a genuine threat to life and potential damage to property and the public should expect significant disruption to travel and also potential power outages because of the severity of conditions.

“We want to assure everybody that we’re working across government with all our partner agencies, councils, the PSNI, emergency services and other agencies to deal with any impacts and also in terms of preparedness.

“We also want the public to know that they can expect to receive an emergency alert on their phones later on this afternoon.

“This is an evolving situation, there are meetings happening as we speak, and we’ll be coming back this afternoon with further updates, but just to say to everybody, we want people to stay safe, we want people to look out for those that are vulnerable, take time to check in on family and friends."

All schools across the North have been advised to close on Friday.

Supermarket giant Lidl has announced its stores will close and reopen one hour after weather warnings lift in local areas, if safe to do so.

Due to the red weather warning in place for Storm Éowyn and the advice to avoid travel, Translink has announced there will be no bus or train services operating on Friday morning, January 24 and while the red status is in place.

Translink’s Director of Service Operations, Ian Campbell, said: “We have worked closely with the multiple emergency planning agencies, and this decision to cancel services is necessary to ensure the safety of all our customers and employees.

“Amber alerts for strong winds are also in effect for most of tomorrow which will likely impact services even after the red alert ends. We will be working collaboratively with all agencies to assess any damage to both road and rail routes and only resume services when it is safe to do so.

“There is likely to be fallen trees and extensive debris that will need to be cleared, and bus and train services may need to operate with speed restrictions or operate diversions for bus services if roads are impassable.

“We are urging passengers to check the Translink Journey Planner, website Weather Warning or social media channels for the latest updates in advance of travel.

“We would like to thank all our passengers and staff for their support and patience during these very difficult conditions to ensure everyone’s safety”.

Aircoach Services have been also suspended.

A spokesperson for Aircoach said: “A nationwide red weather alert has been issued for Friday 24th January as a result of Storm Éowyn. Aircoach plan to suspend services for the duration of the Red Warning period. The safety of our passengers and our teams is top priority.

"Full details of all service cancellations will be posted on our socials and can be found on our website aircoach.ie. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and advise passengers to plan accordingly. Passengers who have booked tickets for services impacted will be refunded automatically over the coming days.

"We will resume services once it is safe to do so and encourage everyone to stay safe during this period of disruption.”

Oakleaf Medical Practice will be operating an urgent telephone service only tomorrow. Patients are being advised not to travel to the practice. For urgent matters that can not wait until Monday, January 27, call: 07783874711.

Due to expected adverse weather conditions tomorrow, all NWRC College campus buildings will be closed.

All scheduled classes will be delivered online and scheduled examinations tomorrow will be re-arranged. College support services will be available online.

The Glen Community Centre has announced that it will close for the day.

Shantallow Community Centre will remain open tomorrow for any emergency issues only. All programmes, including the Empowering Women Programme have been postponed and will return next week.

Long Tower chapel urging parishioners not to come to Mass tomorrow as services will be streamed online at: https://longtowerchurch.org/webcam/

Popular Derry pub Tracy's will also close to due to safety concerns.

Forecasters are warning of flying debris resulting in danger to life, as well as “very dangerous” driving conditions because of fallen trees.

There may also be power cuts, damage to buildings and homes, and delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights.

A Met Office spokesperson said peak rush hour wind speeds of 80-90 miles per hour are expected across Northern Ireland, with up to 100mph in some exposed locations.

“An extremely windy spell with disruption and potentially damaging winds tomorrow morning,” he told PA.

“It’s a big deep area of low pressure covering Northern Ireland hence the warning that covers Northern Ireland.

“Top wind speeds are expected on higher ground or exposed locations, potentially around coasts.”