
Those who had outdoorsy plans this weekend might need to reconsider, as Storm Éowyn is going to batter Manchester and most of England, Scotland and Wales. The Met Office has announced a Yellow Weather Warning for Wind for this Friday (January 24), as locals and visitors alike are urged to plan ahead of the storm.
Storm Éowyn has been forecast to bring wind gusts of up to 60-70mph inland, and coastal areas seeing up to 80-90 mph. Manchester is looking at wind gusts of up to 63mph on the Friday, with possible travel disruptions.

TransPennine Express has now issued a ‘do not travel‘ warning between Manchester/Liverpool and Glasgow/Edinburgh, and on services between York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh, on Friday 24 January due to the expected gale-force winds from Storm Éowyn. With an amber weather warning in place just above Greater Manchester, any services that are able to run are expected to be affected by delays and short notice cancellations, with particular routes being affected including Manchester/Liverpool to Glasgow/Edinburgh via Preston.
Football fans planning to travel to the Manchester United vs. Rangers game on Thursday 23 January are also advised that services to/from Scotland will be severely impacted on Friday 24 January. They are encouraged to postpone their journeys or defer return travel until Saturday 25 January.
Customers with tickets across the affected routes can either defer their journey or use tickets for travel between Thursday 23 January to Monday 27 January inclusive. Alternatively, they can request a full refund here.
Manchester Airport has also been experiencing delays and cancellations, although at present, these are more connected with adverse weather in flight destinations rather than in Manchester.
In a new statement today (January 24), a Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “Although we are not experiencing disruption to our operation as a result of Storm Éowyn, some airlines have cancelled a small number of flights to destinations more significantly affected. Passengers due to fly from Manchester Airport today should make sure they regularly check the status of their flights with their airlines.
“Due to the potential for disruption on the wider transport network, we also advise passengers to check for disruption on their routes to the airport before they leave the house and to allow extra time for their journeys.
“Our teams – including our dedicated resilience team and our customer service colleagues – are on hand, as always, to help passengers in the event of any disruption.”
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “The wet and windy weather brought about by Storm Éowyn will make driving much more of a challenge towards the end of this week, especially for those in the west of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Strong winds mean there’s a higher likelihood of fallen branches and trees on rural routes between motorways and A-roads, which can obstruct journeys and puncture tyres if not carefully avoided.
“Drivers also need to be well aware of the buffeting effect of sudden gusts, especially along coastlines and exposed areas where the worst weather is expected. High-sided vehicles are most at risk of being blown off course, but cars can also be affected as they pass lorries on the motorway and are then hit by the wind on the other side. It’s best to keep speeds low and have a firm grip on the wheel to avoid being caught off-guard, especially in areas where heavy rain will affect visibility.”
The exact times of the Yellow Weather Warning for Wind due to Storm Éowyn
The Yellow Weather Warning for Wind is in place in Manchester between 00.00am on January 24 until 23.59pm on January 24.