TWISTER TERROR
Tornado hits UK destroying homes & tearing off roof tiles as 114mph Storm Eowyn batters Britain
The whole of Northern Ireland has been warned to brace for the strong winds
A TORNADO has destroyed homes and ripped off roof tiles as the UK is battered by Storm Eowyn's 114mph winds.
Over 4.5 million people have already received an alert on their phone to urgently warn them of the dangers ahead.
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With the Met Office issuing a red alert and "danger to life" warning from today, residents in Cornwall have already experienced a tornado.
Wreaking havoc across exposed costal areas, at least one person was being treated for injuries, according to local media.
The yellow wind warning in place for most of yesterday was the first of several as Storm Eowyn hit Brits today.
Tornados in southern areas of the country "cannot be ruled out" according to the European Storm Forecast Experiment.
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The tail of destruction already witnessed yesterday has been described by one resident near Newquay as "very scary".
Luke Freely from Quintrell, told : "It came right through our estate. It's damaged my roof, and my neighbours' roofs have been severely damaged.
"It was very scary and my partner is still shook up. Lots of damage, oh my god, there's fences, there's trees, there's garden equipment everywhere.
"Never seen anything like it."
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A Met Office spokesperson said: “There was a squally front moving eastwards, primarily across Wales and central and/or southern parts of England today which gave an isolated chance of tornados developing.
“All the evidence we’ve seen is consistent with a tornado having occurred in Cornwall this morning. However, most areas experienced a period of heavy rain and gusty winds.”
Met Eireann forecaster Aoife Kealy warns to avoid non-essential travel during Storm Eowyn
Further tornados are expected across the country with the train operator, Scotrail, already cancelling its entire network for Friday.
With thousands of services already suspended, the Met Office currently predicts its red warning to remain in place from 10am to 5pm on Friday with dangerous conditions to driving and all travel expected.
The forecaster has predicted "flying debris", "danger to life" and "very dangerous driving conditions" as Storm Eowyn's strong winds move in tomorrow.
Current advice includes to stay indoors as being outside in the gails could make residents "vulnerable to injury".
The Met Office has also described the warning has having a "high likelihood"; and "high impact".
All schools in Northern Ireland have been advised to close today amid a rare red warning for wind issued for Storm Eowyn, Stormont’s Education Minister Paul Givan has said.
He said: "I understand this will impact on the work of schools and indeed on other businesses and services, but the decision has been taken to avoid any potential risk to life for children and young people as well as staff.
"Schools should put plans in place today for remote learning so that pupils can study at home."
The whole of Northern Ireland is expected to be impacted by the rare storm.
With people advised to ensure "phones and laptops are fully charged" and to expect "significant power outages".
A Met Office spokesperson said peak rush hour are expected across Northern Ireland, with up to 114mph in some exposed locations.
"An extremely windy spell with disruption and potentially damaging winds tomorrow morning," he said.
The record for a gust in Northern Ireland is 124mph in Kilkeel in Co Down in January 1974.
This morning, the Environment Agency has 1 flood warning in place in Salisbury where flooding is expected.
There are also 31 flood alerts where damage is possible across England.
Storm Éowyn is expected to pass close to or across the northwest of the UK on Friday before moving to the northeast on Saturday.
The Met Office said there is some uncertainty in the track of the storm but can confirm there will be be powerful gales.
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"A spell of very strong winds is likely, initially southeasterly before turning westerly, with peak gusts of 50-60 mph inland, 60-70 mph around some coasts and hills," the forecaster added.
"Perhaps up to 80 mph in exposed parts of western Scotland."
RED ALERT
The Met Office has issued the red alert ahead of the severe weather expected tomorrow.
It has predicted the following regions and local areas will be affected:
Central, Tayside and Fife
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Stirling
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
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