Storm Éowyn’s record-breaking winds have formed a dangerous ‘sting jet’, according to satellite images from the Met Office, as millions of Brits remain under ‘danger to life’ weather warnings
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Storm Éowyn: Met Office reveals ‘sting jet’ developed over Ireland
The Met Office says it spotted an extremely rare “sting jet” developing in satellite images showing Storm Éowyn hitting the UK and Ireland.
The images show the sting jet forming off the west coast of Ireland in the early hours of Friday morning. This is what is thought to have brought 114mph gusts to Mace Head in Galway – provisionally the strongest winds ever recorded in Ireland.
A sting jet is a small area of very intense winds (often 100mph or more) that can sometimes form in powerful weather systems, according to the Met Office. Relative to the size of the storm, the sting jet is narrow – often 30 miles across – and only lasts three to four hours. The so-called Great Storm in October 1987, which claimed 18 lives, is an example of a sting jet forming.
Several Met Office weather warnings are in place today and over the coming days, including two rarely-seen red wind warnings in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Northern Ireland warning expires at 2pm today, whereas the Scotland warning ends at 5pm. The Met Office says there is a “danger to life” from flying debris in these regions.
As well as strong winds, Storm Éowyn is expected to bring snow too. The Met Office was forced to issue new snow and ice warnings in six regions today – Central, Tayside & Fife; Grampian; Highlands & Eilean Siar; SW Scotland, Lothian Borders; Strathclyde; Northern Ireland. The warning in Scotland is in place from midnight tonight until 11am on Saturday. In Northern Ireland, the warning is in place from 7pm today until 10am tomorrow.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said this afternoon: “Storm Éowyn is now bringing very strong winds to parts of the UK. There is potential for gusts of 100mph in exposed locations within the red warning area. Anyone in these red and amber warning areas should listen to advice from local responders and keep up to date with weather warnings for their area.”
Although the storm is expected to ease this evening, forecasters anticipate more weather chaos to come on Sunday and Monday. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway said: “While the worst of the winds from Storm Éowyn will ease later on Friday, Scotland will continue to see gusty winds through Saturday as the low pressure clears to the northeast. After a brief calmer spell, another area of low pressure will bring further strong winds and heavy rain through Sunday.
“The strongest winds will be focussed in western parts, while the wettest conditions will likely be across Wales, central and southern England. This low pressure will not be as powerful as Storm Éowyn but it could hamper the recovery efforts of responders in some of the impacted areas from Friday’s storm. Warnings could be updated through the weekend and into next week, so keep up to date with the forecast.”