Terrifying moment Storm Eunice’s 88mph wrath blows over lorries on motorway
Storm Eunice’ s wrath is lashing several parts of the country today tearing down trees, ripping open London’s O2 arena and even blowing over lorries in 88mph winds. Shocking footage from the M4 show a lorry being blown over in Wales as parts of the UK is under a ‘danger to life’ rare red alert for wind. A witness said work was underway to get one of the drivers out of his cab as two lorries had been blown over, WalesOnline reports.
Traffic on the M4 motorway between Porthcawl and Margam came to a standstill as gusts of 90mph caused lorries to overturn in the stormy conditions. People have been advised to stay home as Storm Eunice barrels over parts of the UK.
Storm Eunice has blown over lorries on the M4 in Wales (PA)
The storm has brought 122mph winds, the strongest ever recorded in England, the Met Office has confirmed. The Needles on the Isle of Wight recorded the unprecedented wind gust this morning, according to a tweet by the national weather agency.
Just before 11am this morning the Second Severn Crossing was closing because of the conditions – making it the first time both Severn crossings have been shut.
This lorry fell over on the M4 in Margam, Wales (Getty Images)
It adds that this is provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England. Huge gusts from Storm Eunice have ripped the O2 Arena’s iconic roof “to pieces”, as large holes were seen in the popular London venue. It comes as people in Suffolk have been warned to charge up their phones and prepare for a blackout, as high winds threaten the power supply.
Storm Eunice has caused severe winds and disruption across parts of the UK today (PA)
Suffolk Resilience Forum has sent out a message to all residents as severe winds of up to 80mph are expected until 3pm.
Footage taken today at Birmingham’s BHX Airport shows a Vueling plane from Paris to Birmingham vigorously rocking from side to side as it approached the runway. A Ryanair flight from Dublin can later be seen “crabbing” before landing at the Midlands airport.
The Met Office have issued a rare red weather warning for parts of South Wales (Getty Images)
“Crabbing” means to point the nose of the aircraft partially into the wind, to the left or right, while keeping the plane itself moving towards the runway. Forecasters fear the cyclone could unleash a devastating sting jet, not seen in Britain for more than three decades.
The cyclone storm system is expected to bring hurricane winds in parts of the UK as Brits are advised to hunker down for the day.
Petrifying moment plane shakes from side to side amid strong Storm Eunice gales (Newsflare)
The Met Office had already issued two rare red warnings, only the 11th time this highest level has been implemented by the national weather agency. Schools, businesses and transport have been locked down, with an array of other warnings to remain through the weekend. The worst of the weather today is forecast for South Wales and the south of England.
The roof of the O2 has been ripped off in Storm Eunice (PA)
Roads across the country have been blocked by falling trees and debris, with commuters in parts of the north and Scotland waking up to a blanket of snow.
Rail services across the country were cancelled, while flights have also been delayed or cancelled in airports across the UK. People being told to only travel is absolutely necessary.
The Wet Wok restaurant in Plymouth was hit with a large wave (Matt Gilley/PlymouthLive)
A sting jet is a rare system that sees an incredibly powerful, highly concentrated area of wind within a high-speed storm. The worst of the damage caused in the Great Storm of October 1987 has been attributed to the phenomena – so named because its satellite photos resemble a scorpion’s tail.
They are just 30 miles in width and last up to four hours in storms that pass across Europe.
The 100mph jets form when a stream of cold air is pulled down into a warmer system at the head of a storm, creating evaporation and accelerating airspeeds.
Storm Eunice rips roof off O2 arena in London as record-breaking gusts blast UK
Met Office: Storm Eunice brings 122mph winds – strongest ever recorded in England