Storm Eunice: Wales schools shut and trains cancelled

Hundreds of schools will shut and all trains are cancelled on Friday as Storm Eunice is set to batter the country.

A "very rare" red warning has been issued for parts of Wales with winds in excess of 90mph expected.

People have been warned to stay indoors due to "significant danger to life".

The Met Office red warning, the most severe, runs from 07:00 GMT until 12:00 for parts of south Wales, with a less severe amber warning covering the rest of the country from 03:00 until 21:00.

Met Office meteorologist, Aidan McGivern, said: "This storm isn't quite on the same scale as the 'great storm' in 1987 or the Burns Night Storm - but it's possible one of the most powerful named storms since we started naming storms.

"So we're talking about the type of storm that occurs every five to 10 years."

BBC Wales weatherman, Derek Brockway, said: "Storm Eunice is not a hurricane, but a deep Atlantic depression although winds will reach hurricane force for a while tomorrow."

The majority of Wales' councils have announced schools will be closed on Friday due to the storm, while some university campuses will also be shut.

Over 100 flood warnings have also been issued by Natural Resources Wales, meaning people should take immediate action to protect homes and businesses from damage.

First Minister Mark Drakeford, who attended a COBRA meeting on Thursday afternoon, has advised against unnecessary travel, urging people to "make preparations today so you can keep yourself and loved ones safe".

"The cabinet is meeting this afternoon to discuss preparations for the storm. We will constantly monitor the situation and will keep the people of Wales updated," he added.

The Prince of Wales has cancelled his visit to Newport, due to the "dangers" posed by the storm, Clarence House has confirmed.

Rock band Idles, whose singer Joe Talbot is from Newport, have cancelled their gig at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena. It is the third time the show has been put off.

Staff at Pencnwc holiday park, near New Quay, Ceredigion, have been chaining down caravans ahead of the storm, while at Bay5 Coffee House on Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan, Sophia Christou praised the "amazing" community for helping to fill sandbags to protect them from waves.

Red weather warnings are rarely issued by the Met Office, with the last one coinciding with Storm Arwen in November 2021. The last time it issued a red warning for wind was in March 2018.

The red warning covers Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, and Vale of Glamorgan.

Met Office chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said described Storm Eunice as one of the "most impactful storms" to hit southern and central parts of the UK in years.

All Wales councils have announced their schools will be closed on Friday barring a few exceptions.

Wrexham, Flintshire, Conwy, Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Bridgend, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Ceredigion, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Denbighshire, Monmouthshire and Gwynedd schools are all closing their doors, with some moving to online learning.

Newport and Vale of Glamorgan council have both said some schools will shut there.

Carmarthenshire council is "strongly advising" the county's schools move to online learning during the storm.

Cardiff Metropolitan University is also closing its campuses.

All rail services in Wales will be suspended for all of Friday, with disruption expected to continue into the weekend, rail companies have confirmed in a joint press release.

Transport For Wales said it believed it was the first time all trains in Wales had been cancelled.

Network Rail's Chris Pearce said: "For passengers who are looking to travel across the weekend, they should check before they travel, as we do have a big clean-up operation likely to have to take place."

Due to the level of "extreme weather" expected, rail replacement services will not be operating.

Transport for Wales is allowing passengers with tickets for Friday to travel Thursday instead, or over the weekend, if services have resumed by then.

"The extreme weather forecast for Storm Eunice is very concerning, so we are strongly advising people not to attempt to travel during this time as services will not be operating," added Martyn Brennan of Transport for Wales.

Meanwhile Frank Bird, from National Highways, told BBC News the M48 Severn Bridge would close from about 23:00 GMT on Thursday for safety reasons, and that it was "likely" the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge would also close.

Bus firm Stagecoach has said its services across south Wales will be closed from 07:00 to 13:30 on Friday, while Cardiff Bus has announced services will be suspended from 07:00 to 13:00.

Ferries between Fishguard and Rosslare have been cancelled from 23:45 GMT on Thursday.

Milford Haven harbourmaster, Mike Ryan, said: "We have well-rehearsed plans and procedures in place to deal with severe weather situations and are working closely with external organisations, agencies and our stakeholders to ensure minimal disruption is caused."

Ceredigion council warned Storm Eunice may be one of the "most powerful storms to affect Ceredigion for a number of years", and there was a "significant concern" over the risks posed by the strong winds, and advised people to avoid exposed coastal areas.

Swansea Bay, Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf Morgannwg health boards said Covid vaccination centres will be closed on Friday.

While Swansea Bay added that all non-urgent NHS appointments would also be cancelled.

Aneurin Bevan health board has advised people not to travel and said some appointments would have to be rescheduled.

Cardiff council has said waste and recycling collections will be suspended and warned people not to put bins out.

Cardiff and Newport Crown Courts have both said they will be closed.

HM Courts and Tribunals said it would contact people if there were changes to their proceedings.

Forecasters have warned that damage to buildings and homes is likely, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down.

The UK government called a COBRA meeting on Thursday morning to discuss Storm Eunice.

On Wednesday Storm Dudley caused the M48 Severn Bridge to be been closed in both directions, with Friday likely to see further road, bridge and railway line closures.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) also has flood warnings in place in south, mid and north Wales.

Wyn Davies of Natural Resources Wales said "This is a very concerning storm. We don't see these things very often and even amber warnings carry significant risk obviously so we are very concerned at this storm.

"Take extreme care, use the time to prepare, move your valuables to upstairs rooms if you're on low-lying land round the coast, move cars to high ground, think about the potential the storm might have."

Western Power Distribution's Sean Sullivan said the firm was "well-versed" in coping with storms.

He said: "Where we do struggle and we do have issues is when we have airborne debris, the likes of branches.

"Sometimes it's quite extraordinary what you see flying into our overhead lines - trampolines and shed roofs and fallen trees."

BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Sabrina Lee has warned that Friday is "not a day to venture out", with coastal areas being the worst hit by strong winds.

"You cannot really prepare with mother nature on a pier," Adam Williams, the owner of Llandudno Pier, told BBC Radio Wales.

"If the storm is from the west we are pretty much sheltered from the Orme hopefully we'll be protected.

"The storm in December was coming from the other directions and it caused upwards of £150,000 of damage."

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