Police Travel Advice issued in advance of Storm Eowyn
The Met Office has issued an AMBER Weather warning for WIND.
As such, there may be a HIGH RISK OF DISRUPTION for road users in
the following areas:
• Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee,
Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross, Stirling)
• Grampian (Aberdeenshire)
• Highlands & Eilean Siar (Highland)
• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders (Dumfries & Galloway, East
Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West
Lothian
• Strathclyde (Argyll & Bute, Eat Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire,
East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire,
West Dunbartonshire)
The AMBER warning is effective from 0600 hours on Friday 24th to
2100 on Friday 24th January 2025.
This runs in conjunction with a YELLOW weather warning for WIND
which is effective from 0000 hours on Friday 24th to 1500 hours on
Saturday 25th January in the following areas:
• Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee,
Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross, Stirling)
• Grampian (Aberdeenshire, Moray)
• Highlands & Eilean Siar (Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland)
• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders (Dumfries & Galloway, East
Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West
Lothian
• Strathclyde (Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire,
East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire,
West Dunbartonshire)
And a further YELLOW weather warning for SNOW which is effective
from 0300 hours on Friday 24th to 1200 hours on Friday 24th January in
the following areas:
• Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee,
Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross, Stirling)
• Grampian (Aberdeenshire, Moray)
• Highlands & Eilean Siar (Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland)
• SW Scotland, Lothian Borders (Dumfries & Galloway, East
Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West
Lothian
• Strathclyde (Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire,
East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North
Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire,
West Dunbartonshire)
The full Met Office warning can be accessed via this link UK weather warnings - Met Office
Details on Amber weather warning:
Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday,
clearing to the northeast on Friday night. This will bring a spell of very
strong west to southwesterly winds, with peak gusts of 60-70 mph fairly
widely inland, 70-80 mph in some areas, and 80-90 mph along more
exposed coasts and hills (perhaps even higher in a few locations). It
should be noted that there may be a slight reduction in wind strength for
a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead, this most likely
in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, before winds rapidly
increase again. Winds will gradually ease later on Friday.
General advice for road users:
• Plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel
• All road users should consider if they really need to travel during adverse
weather
• Consider delaying travel until conditions improve
• If you are travelling on the roads, prepare yourself and your vehicle for the
conditions
• Ensure your mobile phone is charged and plan your journey, including an
alternative route
• Have sufficient fuel, warm clothing, food and water in case you’re delayed
• Do not ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety
• Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict emergency services and
recovery vehicles from providing essential assistance
• Listen to media broadcasts, including radio, for updates Traffic Scotland radio player | Traffic Scotland |Traffic Scotland radio player | Traffic Scotland or visit
Traffic Scotland | Trunk road traffic updates & route planner
• Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area via Facebook,
Twitter/X or their website
• Other information can be found on the Met Office and Ready Scotland websites. For public transport information visit https://www.traveline.info.
• Follow @policescotland and @trafficscotland on Twitter/X for up-to-date
travel information.
Wind
HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware
you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police.
Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their
route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until
conditions improve.
Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians should consider the risk of
being blown over or into the path of other road users.
Snow/Ice
Keep well back from the road user in front. Stopping distances can be up
to 10x greater than on dry roads.
Check your windscreen washer levels and effectiveness of wiper blades.
Check your vehicle’s lights.You must ensure your lights are clean and
number plates are clearly visible. Ensure your windows are completely clear before driving. Failure to do so can result in a fine.
