Schools closed and trains cancelled: Storm Éowyn grows closer
Angus council has joined a number of local authorities in shutting learning centres
Last updated 23rd Jan 2025
All Angus schools and early learning and childcare will be closed tomorrow in anticipation of Storm Éowyn.
The local authority is covered by a number of Met Office weather warnings, including an amber for wind.
Experts say that means residents could be faced with gusts of up to 80mph in some areas.
Parts of Perthshire and Dundee are also under an amber warning.
A statement from the council said: “To ensure the safety of our children and young people, their families, our employees and our key partners, we have taken the decision to close all Angus Schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings on Friday 24 January.
“We appreciate the impact of school closures and are making this decision now to provide clarity for parents/carers.
“There will be no school transport running.
“This includes all ASN contracts and College contracts.
“Schools will contact families directly with information about learning which is to be undertaken at home.
“A direct payment will be made to children and young people who are eligible for free school meals based on financial criteria.
“Existing bookings for school meals will be automatically cancelled via ParentPay.”
Perth and Kinross Council has also confirmed all schools and early learning and childcare settings will be closed tomorrow as a precaution.
The local authority say remote learning will be provided for pupils and they expect schools to open as normal on Monday.
Dundee City Council have also announced all nursery, primary, secondary, and special schools will be closed to all staff and pupils.
In a statement they said: "there will be no out-of-school care and Leisure and Culture facilities run out of any local authority educational establishments.
"This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of our young people and staff, particularly as they could be travelling home at the peak of the storm at the end of the school day.
"Families of school age children will be contacted directly by their school about home learning for Friday.
"Arrangements are being made for free school meal payments to be made directly to qualifying households.
"The Amber weather warning for wind affecting Dundee is in place from 6am to 9pm on Friday 24 January.
"Storm Éowyn is expected to have a significant impact on the city and surrounding areas, with the forecast predicting flying debris, travel disruption and possible risk to life.
"In light of the forecast, there may be disruption to other council services tomorrow.
"For the latest updates on all our services, please visit our Storm Éowyn page. Updates will also be posted on our social media channels, including Facebook and X.
"The Met Office forecast shows the potential for gusts more than 80mph across the city."
The development comes after UHI Perth Crieff Road campus, Abertay University and Dundee and Angus College announced they would shut as a precaution.
There is a warning the Tay Road bridge could close due to high winds.
Across the rest of the country, all ScotRail train services will be suspended on Friday and a number of councils in the country have joined Angus in closing schools.
In a statement posted on X, ScotRail said: "With the safety of customers and staff of paramount importance, we will not be safe to operate passenger services due to the forecast weather conditions across Scotland during #StormEowyn.
"All ScotRail services are suspended on Friday January 24.
"We strongly advise you not to travel, as there will be no train services and no alternative transport will be available."
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan said: "Our advice to any road user is not travelling, and that's really the message we want to get across today.
"It's really unusual for us to have a red weather warning and that advice is in place for the duration of that warning."
In a statement at the Scottish Parliament, First Minister John Swinney said: "The storm could bring winds up to 100mph.
"The Met Office advice is clear, the potential impacts include danger to life, structural damage to property and transport and power disruptions.
"We have to be clear, people should not travel.
"Our message is simple, please follow the advice from the Met Office and the police, take this seriously and stay safe."
It is understood Mr Swinney will chair a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Room - Scotland's answer to Cobra - on Thursday afternoon, with an update likely later in the day.