Storm Eunice: the latest updates for Lancashire
Last updated 18th Feb 2022
Millions of people in the UK are bracing for "dangerous conditions" as winds from the second storm in a week prompted two rare red weather warnings for much of the south of England and part of Wales.
The second rare highest alert - meaning a high impact is very likely - was issued to run from 10am until 3pm over the East of England on Friday due to fears of Storm Eunice "causing significant disruption and dangerous conditions due to extremely strong winds" up to 90mph, the Met Office said.
It shouldn't be so bad up here in Lancashire but we're still being urged to take care today as the Met Office has issued an amber warning for wind which warns of a danger to life from flying debris.
Flood alerts are in place in Lancashire
The Environment Agency has issued 10 severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life.
We've got some flood alerts still in place along the coast from Fleetwood to Blackpool and also the Wyre estuary from Fleetwood and Knott End to Little Eccleston.
They Environment Agency says the effects of the spring tides is expected to intensify the effects of Storm Eunice when we reach high tide at midday today.
Disruption to rail
Rail passengers are being warned of further travel disruption today and being advised to travel only if absolutely necessary.
Train lines like Northern, ScotRail, Merseyrail and TransPennine Express are running reduced services as gusts are expected to get stronger throughout the day.
In the aftermath of Storm Dudley, Network Rail engineers worked to clear trees and debris from railway lines on the West Coast main line and other key North West rail routes.
Trees were brought down in multiple locations including Penrith in Cumbria, Garstang in Lancashire, Levenshulme in Manchester, and Styal in Cheshire.
Network Rail will impose blanket safety speed restrictions – 50mph in most places – on the main rail lines across the country, with winds set to reach as high as 90mph in some areas.
Meanwhile in Wales all services will be suspended on Friday because of the storm's expected severity.
7.39am
The Cobra emergency committee met on Thursday "to discuss the response to Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice" and to plan for power cuts, the Government said, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Army is on standby to help those affected by Storm Eunice.
7.46am
Lancashire Police are recommending a duvet day!
They're asking people to stay indoors where necessary and avoid going out unless it's absolutely needed.
8.56am
A power outage affecting Chorley has mean to Council's phone lines and some internet services are down.
9.04am
The Government's Cobra civil contingencies committee is to meet this afternoon to discuss the response to Storm Eunice, a Government spokesman has said.
The meeting will be chaired by Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis.
9.12am
There's been an accident on the M6 near Preston.
All traffic is being temporarily held and has been since around 08.55am after a car hit the central reservation.
It's affecting lane 4 heading northbound atJ32 M55 (Broughton Interchange).
10.14am
Blackpool's trams have been suspended due to the weather and risk of the high tide.
They'll be out of action until 2pm today - at which time bosses will reassess the situation to see if it's safe to resume them.
The bus service is still running though.
Blackpool Transport are also echoing the warnings we've heard this morning, and advising people stay at home, only travel if it is necessary and avoid all promenade locations if possible.
11.13am
The Met Office has issued another weather warning for us here in Lancashire this evening.
There is now a yellow weather warning for ice in place from 6pm until 9am tomorrow morning (Saturday 19th).
Temperatures are expected to drop to 4 degrees celcius freezing the surface water on untreated roads.
12.02pm
The Met Office have recorded what could be the highest gust ever recorded in England - 122mph!
1.06pm
It doesn't look like the bad weather will be coming to an end any time soon.
After Storm Eunice, her sibling Franklin is on the way.
It's bringing a yellow warning for rain for Cumbria on Sunday (18th February) and Electricity North West say they're preparing for it.