When will Storm Eunice end? How long will it last in UK, tracker - weather warnings for the weekend

People were urged to postpone travel plans and stay at home on Friday (18 February), as one of the worst storms in a generation hit the UK.

Storm Eunice brought major disruption to the travel network, and train operators across Britain urged passengers to avoid travelling as emergency speed limits were in place

Schools, roads and businesses also closed their doors, due to concerns over flying debris caused by gusts of up to 90mph.

Update: After the country was hit by Storm Eunice, some areas are now set to be battered by a new storm - Storm Franklin - here’s what you need to know.

When will Storm Eunice be over?

The worst of Storm Eunice should be over within 24 hours.

The majority of the Met Office’s weather warnings currently in place - including its Amber and rare Red warnings - are expected to end at 9pm on Friday 18 February; areas under a Yellow weather warning should see conditions improve from 6pm.

One weather warning does remain in place on Saturday 19 February however.

Areas including south Wales, Bristol, Cornwall, and the south coast of England, will remain under a yellow weather warning for wind until 6pm on Saturday.

But as is always the case with the weather - particularly the British weather - it’s hard to forecast just exactly what will happen with 100% certainty.

There are still many variables that can take hold as the storm plays out across the UK, and the Met Office has warned that a weather phenomenon known as a “sting jet” could form on Friday as Eunice takes hold.

The forecaster defines a sting jet as a small area of very intense winds, which can be as strong as 100mph or more, that can form in powerful weather systems crossing the UK.

While the strongest winds usually take place for a short period of time, perhaps around four hours, and across an area as small as 30 miles, the Met Office said the phenomenon can cause “significant damage and risk to life”.

If such a jet is to form, it’s unlikely that it would prolong the effects of Storm Eunice. But it’s a good example of how forecasts have the potential to change over time.

When are weather warnings in place?

The Met Office’s weather warnings - including its “Red” warnings indicating a danger to life - apply to different areas of the country at different times.

Those warnings are in place from 7am until midday along the coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as well as the south coast of Wales, and from 10am until 3pm over the East of England and London, due to the combination of high tides, strong winds and storm surge.

A separate amber weather warning is also in place for gusts up to 80mph covering most of England from 5am to 9pm, as well as yellow warnings for snow in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has also taken the unusual step of issuing a severe weather alert with National Highways for strong winds covering the whole of the country’s strategic road network from 6am to 6pm.

Ireland has already borne the brunt of the storm, with thousands of homes in the south of the country without power following the arrival of Eunice in the early hours of Friday.

How can I follow the latest news?

NationalWorld is keeping readers up to date with the latest developments over on this live page.

If you want a more local take, many of our sister sites are offering localised live blogs, covering the latest updates, photos and videos as the UK is battered by Storm Eunice.

Viewers up north should take a look at the Yorkshire Post’s blog, while those in Scotland will want to keep an eye on The Scotsman.

Those on the south coast of England can follow Portsmouth’s The News, while Midlands readers will want to keep a tab open on The Derbyshire Times.

Most of our sister titles are offering similar live blogs, so just search for your local area, and you’ll be kept informed of the latest developments.

You can also track the storm for yourself using some very handy online tools. We’ve rounded up some of the best here.

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