What is a red weather warning? Recent UK examples
A rare red weather warning has been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland as the UK braces for Storm Éowyn.
The fifth named storm of the season is set to batter the UK with up to 100mph winds from Friday, January 24, and weather warnings are currently in place for the whole of the weekend.
What does a red weather warning mean?
A red warning is the highest on the Met Office’s scale, above amber and yellow, and not to be taken lightly.
Just a handful of red weather warnings have been issued in recent years and the Met Office website states: “If you haven’t already done so, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather.
“It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.”
A red warning also means people should, where possible, avoid travelling.
Here are recent examples of red weather warnings:
– Storm Darragh, December 2024
The arrival of Storm Darragh prompted a red weather warning for wind which covered parts of Wales and coastal areas of Devon and Somerset, while a yellow warning was issued for other areas of the UK. Forecasters warned winds of up to 90 mph were likely, prompting the cancellation of sporting fixtures, Christmas festivals and events.
The storm left tens of thousands of homes without power and caused transport delays across wide swathes of England and Wales. The strong winds tore down structures on Llandudno's famous pier and two people were killed after trees fell onto their vehicles.
– Storm Babet, October 2023
At least seven people died after Storm Babet brought “exceptional rainfall” to eastern Scotland after red warnings were issued for areas including the country of Angus.
Around 30,000 people lost power to their homes in Scotland and winds of up to 115mph were recorded on Scottish peaks. While the northernmost country of the UK saw the worst of the weather, heavy rainfall and flooding also caused disruption in England and Wales.
A red weather warning had been issued for parts of the region, with forecasters warning of winds of up to 90mph, while an amber warning was in place for the rest of the West Country.
– Heatwave, July 2022
A heatwave in mid-July 2022 saw temperatures reach unprecedented levels in many parts of the UK, passing 40°C for the first time on July 19 and peaking at 40.3°C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
The conditions prompted the Met Office to issue its first-ever red warning for extreme heat, covering much of central and southern England.
The Government declared a national emergency, Network Rail issued a “Do not travel” warning, and several fire services declared major incidents after multiple blazes broke out, with a number of homes gutted in Wennington, east London.
Railway tracks buckled, gritters spread sand on some roads after surfaces began to melt, and there were several deaths associated with open-water swimming.
– Storm Eunice, February 2022
Two red warnings for wind were issued for Storm Eunice, covering areas of south-west and south-east England.
It was the most severe and damaging storm to affect England and Wales since 2014, with winds of more than 81mph in exposed coastal locations and a gust of 122mph recorded on the Needles off the coast of the Isle of Wight, setting a new England gust-speed record.
Four people died in the UK and Ireland as a result of falling trees, while more than a million homes were left without power, hundreds of flights were cancelled, and the Humber Bridge and both Severn Bridges were closed for the first time in their history.
– Storm Arwen, November 2021
A red warning for wind was issued for Storm Arwen, running down the eastern edge of the UK from Aberdeen to Newcastle.
The storm saw wind speeds of more than 69mph in many areas of Scotland and northern England, with a gust of 98mph recorded at Brizlee Wood in Northumberland.
More than one million homes lost power, three people died when they were hit by falling trees, and rail passengers in Aberdeenshire were stuck on a train overnight.
Snow added to the disruption across parts of the Pennines, while nearly 6in (15cm) of lying snow was recorded in Buxton in Derbyshire.
The National Trust reported the loss of many mature trees, including 50 trees at Bodnant Gardens, Conwy, and hundreds of grey seal pups were lost from beaches along the North Sea coast.
– Storm Dennis, February 2020
A red warning for rain was issued for parts of South Wales during storm Dennis.
The storm brought very strong winds, but the worst of the disruption was caused by exceptionally heavy rain.
South Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire were worst affected by flooding, with the Rivers Wye and Severn reported to have reached their highest-ever levels, and more than 1,400 homes and businesses flooded.
Around 2in to 4in (50mm-100mm) of rain fell across the high ground of Dartmoor, parts of Wales, the Lake District, and Highlands, while 4in to 6in (100mm-150mm) fell across parts of the Brecon Beacons and South Wales Valleys.
Large areas of farmland were left under water, hundreds of flights and trains were cancelled, and in County Cork, an abandoned “ghost” cargo ship was washed ashore.
