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Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026
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Storm Éowyn Strikes UK with Record Winds: The Met Office Reports Unprecedented Damage
Storm Éowyn brings over 100mph winds, power outages, and property damage across the UK and Ireland.
Storm Éowyn has been identified by the Met Office as 'probably the strongest storm' to hit the UK in a decade, with wind gusts exceeding 100mph (160km/h).
This severe weather event left nearly a million properties without power and caused major disruptions in transportation across the British Isles, particularly affecting parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The storm tragically claimed the life of a 20-year-old man, Kacper Dudek, when a tree fell on his car in County Donegal, Ireland—one of the areas that experienced some of the worst conditions, with wind gusts reaching a record 114mph.
Both the Met Office and the Irish police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The impacts of Storm Éowyn have been widespread.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, property damage was significant, with Network Rail Scotland reporting nearly 400 incidents of infrastructure damage.
The Met Office had issued amber and red warnings ahead of the storm, although these have since expired, but cautionary yellow warnings for wind and rain remain effective into Sunday.
Some regions of England and Wales could see up to 80mm of rain over the weekend.
Electricity services have been severely disrupted, affecting tens of thousands of properties in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Northern Ireland Electricity Managing Director Derek Hynes described the damage to the electricity network as 'devastating,' noting it could take several days to restore full service.
Over 1,800 incidents involving fallen trees and debris blocking roads were reported by Northern Ireland's infrastructure department.
Education authorities have reported significant damage to schools, with closures expected to extend into next week.
Travel services have faced ongoing challenges as storm conditions forced ScotRail to address 'extensive damage,' with sections such as the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and Newcastle only gradually reopening.
Despite some resumption, major disruptions continue across the network.
Airports, including Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle, have warned of residual delays, with airlines advising passengers to check updated travel information.
The UK government convened a Cobra meeting to coordinate the recovery response, focusing on restoring power and addressing the overarching infrastructural impacts.
In Ireland, electricity disruptions have affected 625,000 properties, and Irish Water reported interruptions to supply due to the storm’s effects on treatment plants and pumping stations.
The resilience of communities has been tested by Storm Éowyn’s unprecedented scale, highlighted by individuals recounting unique experiences of structural damage and power loss.
The severe weather has prompted a focus on the recovery efforts necessary to restore normalcy and address the challenges posed by one of the most intense storms in years.
This severe weather event left nearly a million properties without power and caused major disruptions in transportation across the British Isles, particularly affecting parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The storm tragically claimed the life of a 20-year-old man, Kacper Dudek, when a tree fell on his car in County Donegal, Ireland—one of the areas that experienced some of the worst conditions, with wind gusts reaching a record 114mph.
Both the Met Office and the Irish police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The impacts of Storm Éowyn have been widespread.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, property damage was significant, with Network Rail Scotland reporting nearly 400 incidents of infrastructure damage.
The Met Office had issued amber and red warnings ahead of the storm, although these have since expired, but cautionary yellow warnings for wind and rain remain effective into Sunday.
Some regions of England and Wales could see up to 80mm of rain over the weekend.
Electricity services have been severely disrupted, affecting tens of thousands of properties in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Northern Ireland Electricity Managing Director Derek Hynes described the damage to the electricity network as 'devastating,' noting it could take several days to restore full service.
Over 1,800 incidents involving fallen trees and debris blocking roads were reported by Northern Ireland's infrastructure department.
Education authorities have reported significant damage to schools, with closures expected to extend into next week.
Travel services have faced ongoing challenges as storm conditions forced ScotRail to address 'extensive damage,' with sections such as the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and Newcastle only gradually reopening.
Despite some resumption, major disruptions continue across the network.
Airports, including Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle, have warned of residual delays, with airlines advising passengers to check updated travel information.
The UK government convened a Cobra meeting to coordinate the recovery response, focusing on restoring power and addressing the overarching infrastructural impacts.
In Ireland, electricity disruptions have affected 625,000 properties, and Irish Water reported interruptions to supply due to the storm’s effects on treatment plants and pumping stations.
The resilience of communities has been tested by Storm Éowyn’s unprecedented scale, highlighted by individuals recounting unique experiences of structural damage and power loss.
The severe weather has prompted a focus on the recovery efforts necessary to restore normalcy and address the challenges posed by one of the most intense storms in years.
