New storm approaches Scotland as thousands still without power

More strong winds and heavy rain are approaching the UK as Storm Eowyn dies down.

The last of Eowyn is pushing across the UK overnight and producing snow and ice warnings in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Around 35,000 properties in Scotland were still without power on Saturday evening.

SP Energy Networks say by Sunday morning that number was reduced to 14,000 bringing the total number of homes reconnected since the ordeal to 165,000.

The power supplier says it's been alerted 52,000 incidents; the equivalent of a month’s calls each day.

Aileen Rourke, SP Energy Networks Scotland Distribution Director, said: “Our dedicated engineers have continued to work through the night to get many more people back on supply.

“Unfortunately, the severity of the storm and damage, combined with the continued poor weather conditions, means in some areas it could take several days to restore power.

"We know it is difficult for customers and are updating them on likely timescales to help them plan for the coming days.

“Hotel accommodation is being provided where possible and food vouchers as well as food trucks in the most badly affected areas.

"We’ve also worked with local authorities and other partners to arrange warm spaces for people to go to charge phones and get hot food and drinks."

Today (Sunday), a new low-pressure system is moving in from the south west bringing further strong winds and heavy rain.

Spanish meteorologists have dubbed it Storm Herminia, as the European country will feel the strongest winds.

It hit the south west of England and south west Wales first and then move into Northern Ireland and northern England on Sunday afternoon, reaching parts of Scotland by the evening.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: "This is certainly going to be a notch down compared to Eowyn, whilst there is the potential for 60 to 70mph gusts of wind across the very far south west generally, we're not going to be seeing the same strengths of winds as we have seen over the last couple of days."

However "there are a lot of sensitivities around" following Eowyn, he said.

More than a million people in the UK were without power during the storm, and there was significant travel disruption across the UK and Ireland.

Ministers from across the UK held an emergency Cobra meeting on Saturday to co-ordinate recovery efforts, and extra engineers were dispatched from England to Northern Ireland and Scotland.

"Obviously places maybe currently have a bit of a lower threshold for wind strengths at this stage, following all the disruption and damage that's been put in place", Mr Vautrey said.

"It is something that people certainly need to be wary of, and still taking care of, as we head into Sunday and into the start of the new working week as well - the risk of localised flooding, further flying debris and travel disruption is possible as a result of all of this."

The low-pressure system will linger through Monday and Tuesday bringing outbreaks of rain, occasional heavy showers and blustery winds in places.

70mph gusts

A yellow warning for wind is in place in the south-east, south-west and north-west England, as well as Wales and south-western parts of Scotland, from 8am to 3pm on Sunday.

Gusts of 50mph to 60mph are expected widely and they could reach 70mph on exposed coasts and hills, the Met Office said.

Another yellow warning for "strong and gusty winds" will be active from Monday at 6am until the same time on Tuesday in the east, south-east and south-west of England and Wales.

Most of central and southern England and much of Wales have a yellow warning for heavy rain in place from 8am on Sunday to 6am on Monday, bringing a chance of local flooding for parts of the UK.

The Met Office warned 10 to 20mm of rain will fall, nearing 30 to 50mm on high ground.

A further heavy spell on Sunday evening could bring as much as 80mm.

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