Storm Eunice: Live updates as thousands of Leeds homes without power, travel disrupted and buildings damaged
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Thousands of homes in the city have been hit by power cuts, while others have been damaged by the force of the winds seen this afternoon and in the early evening. Follow our live blog below and refresh the page for the latest updates.
Storm Eunice: Power cuts, Leeds flights diverted, cladding blown off building
Key Events
Gusts of more than 80mph as Storm Dudley hit UK
The UK faced strong winds and heavy rain on last night, causing power cuts and travel disruption before a second storm arrives tomorrow.
The Met Office had issued an amber warning for strong winds covering central Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and northern England above Hull over the evening, with yellow wind warnings in place as far south as Birmingham.
As Storm Dudley moved in during the afternoon, Capel Curig in Wales experienced gusts of up to 81mph. Emley Moor near Huddersfield saw 74mph winds, while Drumalbin in Scotland was hit by 71mph gales.
It comes ahead of Storm Eunice, with London North East Railway (LNER) warning customers with tickets for journeys between York and Leeds and London King's Cross tomorrow to move them to today instead due to expected disruption and damage.
Hour by hour forecast for Leeds
Here’s how the forecast for the rest of the day is looking. Wind speeds today are expected to range between 34mph and 37mph this morning, before easing further this afternoon.
7am - Light showers, 6C
8am - Light showers, 6C
9am - Sunny , 6C
10am - Sunny intervals, 6C
11am - Cloudy, 7C
noon - Sunny intervals, 7C
1pm - Light shower, 7C
2pm - Light rain, 6C
3pm - Light rain, 5C
4pm - Light shower, 5C
5pm - Cloudy, 5C
6pm - Light shower, 5C
7pm - Cloudy, 5C
8pm - Cloudy, 5C
9pm - Cloudy, 5C
10pm - Cloudy, 5C
11pm - Cloudy, 5C
Restrictions for high sided vehicles easing
Highways England says all restrictions to high sided and vulnerable vehicles have been lifted on the M62 Ouse Bridge in both directions between J36 and J37.
But it adds that strong winds remain in the area following Storm Dudley so drivers should take care on journeys today.
How to report fallen trees
As it grows lighter and more people set out for the day, these are the key numbers you need if come across fallen trees on your travels.
West Yorkshire Police’s Customer Management Centre, which takes 999 calls, has shared these numbers for reporting forestry emergencies.
- Leeds - 0113 376 0499
- Wakefield- 0345 850 6506
- Kirklees - 01484 414909
- Calderdale - 01422 288000
- Bradford - 01274 431000
Services between Leeds and Skipton suspended
National Rail is reporting continued disruption to some routes this morning, with services between Leeds and Skipton currently suspended.
It’s due to a tree caught in the overhead wires in the Keighley area. As a result of this, all lines are currently blocked.
It says a replacement road transport was being sourced to run between Shipley and Skipton from the start of service.
Disruption is expected to continue until 3pm today.
LNER urges passengers not to travel on Friday as Leeds service reduced
Rail operator LNER is urging passengers not to travel on Friday as Storm Eunice is expected to bring severe weather conditions across the UK.
It says: “Our trains will be most impacted by the severe weather in the southern parts of our route (south of York/Leeds) and as a result we will be running a reduced service between London King’s Cross and York/Leeds. We expect these trains to be extremely busy and subject to short notice cancellations and alterations.
“At present the weather is not forecasted to affect our route north of York so we still plan to run services between York and Newcastle/ Scotland. However, please check before you travel as this is subject to change at short notice.
“Customers with tickets dated for travel on Friday 18 February will be able to use these tickets to travel on Thursday 17 February instead. We strongly advise you to reserve a seat before you travel, and please travel as close to the time shown on your original ticket as possible.
“Please travel as close to the time on your ticket as possible. Please note that we highly recommend that you make a reservation before travelling.”
Head to the LNER website to make reservations or to seek a refund if you are unable to travel today instead.
1,000 homes still without power
Thousands of homes have been left without power after Storm Dudley swept through parts of the UK.
Northern Powergrid said 1,000 properties still had no lights on this morning due to the weather.
“Our teams have restored power to some 19,000 homes and businesses impacted by Storm Dudley, and we are working to get the lights back on for around 1,000 properties still affected,” a spokesperson said.
On Wednesday evening at 9pm, around 4,000 people were thought to still be without power. About 14,000 customers were originally affected by the weather but 10,000 had been reconnected.
Vaccination centre closed today
A reminder that the Elland Road NHS Vaccination centre is closed today and tomorrow amid safety concerns related to the weather.
NHS Leeds said yesterday that it was in the process of contacting everyone who had appointments for these days to help them get those rearranged as the centre would be shut.
Jabs that were booked for Wednesday did go ahead but people arriving there were redirected to teams who had set up vaccination stations in Billy’s Bar in the neighbouring stadium.
Met Office updates Storm Eunice warning for region
The Met Office has updated its yellow weather warning for Yorkshire and the Humber ahead of the arrival of Storm Eunice tomorrow.
The warning for strong winds begins at 7am on Friday and is currently due to expire at 6pm.
What to expect
- There is a chance of some damage to trees and also perhaps to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs
- There is a chance of longer journey times or cancellations as road, rail, air and ferry services are affected
- There is a chance that some roads and bridges could close
- There is a small chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage
- There is a small chance that injuries could occur from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties
TransPennine Express urging against travel on Friday
TransPennine Express is urging customers across its network not to travel tomorrow, with Storm Eunice likely to cause significant disruption.
With weather warnings in place and strong winds expected across the North and into Scotland, emergency speed restrictions are being put in place by Network Rail and TPE will be operating a minimal train plan.
As a result of the disruption, the train company is strongly urging customers to instead travel on today or on Saturday.
Tickets for Friday February 18 will be valid on TPE services today and Saturday February 19, or a full refund can be obtained at tpexpress.co.uk/help/refunds with no admin fee.
Operations director Paul Watson said: “Storm Eunice will be the second storm to impact our services this week and it is likely to cause major disruption to train services, right across the North of England and into Scotland.
“The most important thing is that our customers and staff are kept safe and we are urging customers not to travel by train on Friday February 18. We are instead asking customers to make their journeys on either Thursday February 17 or Saturday February 19.
“The situation with the weather is changing all the time, and customers should continue to check our website or National Rail Enquires for the latest information.”
More information and the latest updates on the situation can be found on the TPE website at www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates or at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Railway line between Leeds and Skipton reopens
Northern says the line between Leeds and Skipton has now reopened, but some services may still be cancelled or delayed as things get back to normal.
A section of the line between Shipley and Skipton had been blocked since yesterday afternoon when a tree fell onto the line near Keighley, causing damage to overhead cables.
Drivers urged to take caution
Analysis by insurer Zurich UK shows road accidents leap by a third during extreme weather.
Julie Watson, Zurich’s Head of Motor, said: “High winds, snow and rain from Storm Eunice are likely to make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Our data shows claims for road traffic accidents leapt by more than a third (35%) during November’s Storm Arwen, the last major weather event to batter the UK. Flying debris or falling trees resulted in a 17% spike in motor claims.
“These figures highlight the heightened risks on the road during severe weather events. Drivers could be twice as likely to make a claim for a crash in severe weather, as they are for storm damage to their vehicle. We would urge people to take extreme care if they choose to travel. Drivers who do head out should stick to major routes, reduce their speed and take a firm grip of the wheel. We also suggest people park their vehicle in a garage or away from trees, if possible.”
National Highways issues a severe weather warning as Storm Eunice approaches
Drivers are advised that Storm Eunice is expected to create severe driving conditions across much of England and a significant risk to vehicles in the South West, where National Highways has issued a Red Alert for gales in addition to a Met Office Red National Severe Weather Warning.
Yellow, amber and red Met Office warnings for wind have been issued in England for the storm, which is going to impact large parts of the country tomorrow (Friday).
The National Highways Red Alert relates to the South West between 8am and 11am tomorrow. Exceptionally strong winds are predicted around the Bristol Channel peaking tomorrow morning with 70mph – 80mph gusts, possibly reaching 90mph over the Avonmouth and Severn Bridges.
This will lead to dangerous driving conditions for vulnerable vehicles with exceptional sidewinds and wind-blown debris. Road users are advised to avoid travel unless it’s essential.
There’s a particularly high risk that high-sided vehicles and other vulnerable vehicles such as caravans and motorbikes could be blown over and National Highways, in conjunction with the Met Office, strongly advises these types of vehicles avoid the Severn Crossing, the M4 junction 22 to M5 junction 18, Stroud to M4, Avonmouth Bridge, and Clevedon to Bridgwater.
Severe weather warnings issued as Storm Eunice approaches
Drivers are advised that Storm Eunice is expected to create severe driving conditions across much of England and a significant risk to vehicles in the South West, where National Highways has issued a Red Alert for gales in addition to a Met Office Red National Severe Weather Warning.
Yellow, amber and red Met Office warnings for wind have been issued in England for the storm, which is going to impact large parts of the country tomorrow (Friday). The National Highways Red Alert relates to the South West between 8am and 11am tomorrow. Exceptionally strong winds are predicted around the Bristol Channel peaking tomorrow morning with 70mph – 80mph gusts, possibly reaching 90mph over the Avonmouth and Severn Bridges.
This will lead to dangerous driving conditions for vulnerable vehicles with exceptional sidewinds and wind-blown debris. Road users are advised to avoid travel unless it’s essential.
There’s a particularly high risk that high-sided vehicles and other vulnerable vehicles such as caravans and motorbikes could be blown over and National Highways, in conjunction with the Met Office, strongly advises these types of vehicles avoid the Severn Crossing, the M4 junction 22 to M5 junction 18, Stroud to M4, Avonmouth Bridge, and Clevedon to Bridgwater.
There’s a high likelihood of both Severn Crossings being closed tomorrow, with an impact on access into Wales via the M5 north and M50 south.
While Storm Eunice’s strongest winds will be in the south, there’s an amber warning for wind in the north and a yellow warning for snow. Up to 20cm of snow could gather over high ground, with less significant accumulations in the lower ground. Brisk winds could create blizzard-like conditions and drifting of lying snow.
This comes soon after the impact of Storm Dudley, which saw strong winds disrupt travel in large sections of the north, including a blockage caused by a fallen tree on the A64 and the closure of the A66 to high-sided vehicles.
National Highways Head of Road Safety, Jeremy Phillips, said:
“For those who do travel, we’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your trip and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.
“In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down.
“Drivers of other vehicles should be aware of sudden gusts of wind which can affect handling and braking, and give high-sided vehicles, caravans, and motorbikes plenty of space. In the event of persistent high winds we may need to close bridges to traffic for a period, so please be alert for warnings of closures and follow signed diversion routes.”
Northern warns passengers ‘Do Not Travel’ on Friday in light of Storm Eunice
People in Leeds have been warned not to travel by train on Friday due to Storm Eunice.
Train operator, Northern, has told passengers ‘do not travel’’ as significant disruption is expected to rail services caused by the adverse weather.
Delays and cancellations are highly likely.
Commenting on the disruption to services, Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “Storm Eunice will cause widespread disruption across the network tomorrow, affecting all operators in the region.
“As such, we are advising passengers not to travel and to consider whether the journey is necessary.”
Northern operates around 2,000 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
Councils open homeless shelters and halt bin collections as storm set to hit
A number of councils across the UK are to help shelter homeless people and halt bin collections with Storm Eunice set to batter the country on Friday.
With the storm approaching, some local authorities have activated their Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that shelters are being opened on Thursday evening for people who are sleeping rough.
The scheme usually operates when temperatures drop to below freezing.
The protocol compels councils and homelessness charities to open emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough during weather conditions that could pose a threat to their lives.