Storm brings weather warning and gale force winds | UK News

Roads have been closed, trains cancelled and schools shut as severe gale force winds hit the north-east of England and Cumbria.

The region is under an amber weather warning for wind as Storm Éowyn sweeps across parts of the UK.

All trains in Cumbria have been cancelled and no trains are operating north of Newcastle in either direction from 11:00 GMT, Network Rail said.

“This [extreme weather] does seem to be coming a much more regular feature,” Gateshead council leader Martin Gannon said, adding: “It’s clearly related to issues of global warming.”

Dozens of schools in Northumberland and Cumbria are closed for safety reasons.

Head teacher at Keswick School Simon Jackson told parents that sustained high winds “make guaranteeing everyone’s safety across the school site impossible”.

An amber weather warning is in place for wind until 21:00, with some snow expected for Pennine and Border areas.

There is an additional yellow wind warning all day for the north-east of England and Cumbria, and a yellow warning for temporary snow on hills in Pennine and Border areas valid until 12:00.

Gusts are widely expected in excess of 60mph (97km/h), with more than 80mph (129km/h) likely over exposed hills and along the Cumbria coast, where large waves will be an added hazard.

Forecasters are warning the wind could be “damaging, dangerous and possibly life-threatening”.

Look North’s weather presenter Paul Mooney said: “Things look less windy by Saturday.”

All train companies in the region have warned lines may be closed at short notice due to the impact Éowyn, with some issuing “do not travel” advice.

The A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner and the A628 have been closed since midnight.

Karl Melville, from Cumberland Council, said it was expecting “airborne issues” such as flying debris to cause power outages.

“Think about what you’re doing,” Mr Melville said.

“Look out for your neighbours.”

Sellafield workers have been told to work from home if they can. It said “as a precautionary measure, all outside working on the site is restricted… unless in the interests of maintaining nuclear safety or security and subject to risk assessments”.

Forestry England advised people to stay away from its sites in Cumbria, including Whinlatter and Grizedale, “due to the risk of falling trees”.

Northumberland Country Parks at Bolam Lake, Plessey Woods and Druridge Bay are closed, as is Beamish Museum in County Durham.

At least two-thirds of all National Trust sites in the north-east of England have closed.

Meanwhile, Darlington Borough Council’s tip and waste transfer station will stay closed all day.