UK weather: Man killed when car crashes into tree in winds of Storm Irwin | UK news

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A man has been killed after his car crashed into a fallen tree in Northern Ireland as Storm Irwin batters the UK with strong winds.

The accident occurred in Antrim on Friday, with police closing the road in both directions.

The Bureau of Meteorology for Storm Irwin has issued a rare red warning about the weather being “life-threatening” – with strong winds that could destroy homes and buildings, disrupt travel, down power lines and trees.

The Met Office has issued the highest alert, warning that gusts of more than 80 mph are expected to hit the eastern shores of Scotland and northern England from 3pm on Friday.

Photo: Debris left as Storm Irwin hit Aberdeen Aberdeen. Pic @terrycharleton/Twitter Image: Snowfall photo, taken at 5:30 p.m. in Lydgate, County Durham

The warning, which runs along the east coast from Newcastle upon Tyne beyond Aberdeen, says flying debris could result in a “danger to life”.

The alert also warns people of the potential for “roads, bridges and railways to be closed, with bus, train, ferry and flights services delayed and canceled” and “big waves and beach items being thrown onto coastal roads, waterfronts, and homes.”

Winds of up to 60 mph are expected in Northern Ireland, with a warning until 6 pm on Saturday.

Yellow wind warnings are also in place for western parts of the UK, extending across the rest of the country through Saturday.

There are also yellow snow warnings for central parts of Scotland, with central and southern England also warning of possible snow on Saturday.

Warnings in Scotland say the probability of snow will be greater in the hills, while most areas covered by the warning in England will see bouts of rain with “little chance” of snow.

There are also cold weather warnings in northwest England – people are encouraged to “look for friends and family who may be exposed to the cold”.

Photo: Bad weather has caused some trees to fall in parts of the country, as in this photo, taken around 8pm in Aberdeen. Pic @ Filmscorematt / Twitter

What does red warning mean?

Flying debris leads to danger to life. Damage to buildings and homes, with broken roofs, shutdowns of power lines, roads, bridges and railways, with delays and cancellations of buses, trains, ferry services and flights affecting other services, such as as a mobile phone cover, dumping big waves and beach items on coastal roads and waterfronts and homes

Arwen is the first named storm of the 2021/2022 season – which began in September.

In a statement, the Met Office said: “A rare red weather warning for winds has been added to the warnings in amber and yellow winds, with coastal areas on the east coast of Scotland and north east England set to experience the most disruptive winds. With gusts expected in excess of 80 miles in the time.

“The Red Warning will come into effect from 3pm on Friday and will last until 2am on Saturday. Northerly winds are expected to cause damage to coastal areas, with exceptionally large waves potentially in the northeast, creating significant damage and risks. Possible beach material.Dumped near the coast.

“People should stay away from the coast because the waves and the debris are life threatening.”

Daniel Rodman, Met Office meteorologist, said: “Storm Irwin is linked to a deep low pressure system that will significantly affect the North East from Friday, but will also have broader impacts over the UK with the potential for high winds, rain and snow, particularly over land. high . .

“In combination with high winds, Storm Arwen brings the possibility of rain, sleet and snow. Snow is likely to appear more in the higher ground in the north, but there is a chance of some lower level impacts towards some southern areas, which is reflected with the yellow warnings we have issued for snow” .

Analysis by Kirsty McCabe, Weather Producer

Red weather warnings are very rare and reflect the high probability of severe impact from severe weather – they are not issued lightly, roughly once a year.

In February 2020, a red rain warning was issued for Wales linked to Storm Dennis.

Before that, there was a red warning of wind and snow in March 2018 for southwest England and Wales when the beast from the east struck.

The Bureau of Meteorology is naming storms on the back of their potential impact, with Storm Arwen announcing it as a result of the original amber wind warning.

Storm Arwen is expected to move across the North Sea into Europe by Sunday.

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