UPDATE Red weather warning for Storm Eowyn - Friday 24 January 2025 - SCHOOL CLOSURES

A Red weather warning has been issued for Friday 24 January 2025, between 10am and 5pm as Storm Éowyn is expected to bring very strong winds and widespread disruption.

School closures

The Council has taken the decision to close all schools and Early Childhood Centres, and SL33 and SL66 on Friday 24 January.

This is a difficult decision to take and the Council understands the impact on parents and carers, however the safety of children and young people is paramount.

Waste collection services

All bin collections will be suspended and the recycling centres will be closed on Friday 24 January.

Residual waste due to be collected on Friday 24 January will be collected on Saturday 25 January.  Please present your bin before 6:30am. 

Your recycling trolley will be collected on your next collection day. Please place any excess recycling beside your trolley. 

Community alarms

Your Community Alarm will continue to operate in the event of a power cut. Units may be affected should there be an issue with mobile phone networks in the area and will be resolved once mobile networks are back.

Bereavement services

All burials scheduled to take place tomorrow on Friday 24 January have unfortunately been cancelled. Our Bereavement Team will liaise with Funeral Directors and families to make alternative arrangements. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and our thoughts are with the bereaved families affected.

Thanks

Updates on any further impact to service provision will be provided throughout the day. 

What you can do to prepare for the storm

What should I expect?

• Flying debris resulting in danger to life
• Very dangerous driving conditions with fallen trees on roads
• Power cuts affecting other services, such as mobile phone coverage
• Damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down
• Roads, bridges and railway lines closed, with delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights

What should I do?

• Keep yourself and others safe; avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous conditions. It is not safe to drive in these conditions.
• Don't risk injury to others or damage to your property. If you can do so safely, check for loose items outside your home and secure them. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.
• Being outside in high winds makes you vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors if you can.
• People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
• If you live or work on the coast, beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
• Stay up to date with the weather forecast for your area and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities.

Further details

Southwesterly then westerly winds will rapidly increase from west to east Friday mid-morning onwards into the afternoon, with peak gusts of 80-90 mph fairly widely and perhaps up to 100 mph along exposed western coasts. This brings the risk of significant disruption to transport and power supplies as well as dangerous conditions outdoors. Winds will gradually ease through Friday evening.

Yellow warning for winds Saturday 25 January 2025 

A Yellow weather warning has been issued for Saturday 25 January, between the hours of 00.00hrs and 3pm as Storm Éowyn continues to bring strong winds with some disruption possible.

Please continue to check our website and social media for the latest local updates and service disruption.