For the latest updates from Sunday, please click here
The after effects of Storm Eowyn are still being felt after it battered the county on Friday.
Thousands of people are still without power and the storm impacted rubbish collections, roads, public transport and schools, plus much more.
Buildings were damaged across the county – including a major incident at the Sands Centre in Carlisle. A temporary canopy protecting the roof of its auditorium fell victim to the high winds and resulted in roads being closed.
Fire crews were out in force – with Longtown Fire Service reporting that its crew had dealt with three overturned lorries with one driver rescue, one dangerous structure, one downed power line and two chimney fires. It said: “The entire service has been run off its feet.”
A helicopter from a surveying company is flying along the west coast of Cumbria and its route suggests it is following the railway line. Electricity North West said it had deployed a helicopter to help assess damage of overhead lines.
Here is a round-up of what we know and where we are at in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn.
Weather warning
While there are no weather warnings in force for Cumbria today, a yellow weather warning for wind is in place for part of the county from 8am to 3pm tomorrow, Sunday.
A further period of strong south to south easterly winds accompanied by some heavy rain is expected to move into the south west on Sunday morning, then spread to other southern and western areas through the day. Winds are likely to gust 50mph to 60mph quite widely, and around some exposed coasts and hills gusts to 70mph are possible.
Sub-zero road temperatures were forecast last night across Eden and South Lakeland.
Power cuts
Thousands of homes remain without power in Cumbria. Over 137 separate damages were caused on the network due to the storm.
Electricity North West has set the majority of restoration times to 8pm today, Sunday January 26 – and a few for 8pm tomorrow, Monday January 27. It says they are worst-case scenario time and it is hoped much of the power will be restored before then.
Due to its severity, Storm Eowyn will be classed as Category 2, meaning that customers will be eligible for compensation payments of £85 if power has been cut off for 48 hours, and an extra £40 for every six hours afterwards.
Once all properties have been restored, Electricity North West will contact customers entitled to compensation payments, it said.
Our list of power cuts is here – we will update throughout the day.
Roads
Dozens of roads were closed or impacted by falling trees during Storm Eowyn.
Cumbria police warned that driving conditions may continue to be hazardous.
The A596 in West Cumbria was closed between the Northside roundabout and Lowca Lane due to falling debris. It has now reopened. .
The A66 was closed from midnight on Thursday. We’ve not seen any official notification but it appears that it has reopened.
The impact of the Sands Centre roof in Carlisle resulted in roads being closed around the area to pedestrians and cyclists – Eden Bridge opened last night. Newmarket Road and Duke’s Road were due to reopen this morning, Saturday January 25.
A number of HGVs were blown over on exposed roads.
Westmorland & Furness Council’s highways team responded to almost 70 emergency reports of fallen trees, damaged buildings and damaged lamp posts. By noon yesterday, Cumberland Council was dealing with around 80 road incidents reported to its highways team.
Cumbria Local Resilience Forum, a multi-agency group that responds to major incidents in the county, said: “Work and clean-up will continue into the night and over the weekend. We ask everyone to take extra care on the roads and observe any road closure signs for their own safety.”
Roads closed in Westmorland & Furness
- C1037 near Brackenburgh – trees down
- C3054 Hardendale/Reagill area – trees down
- C3007 between Lazonby and Thiefside – fallen trees impacting electricity pylon
- West of Grizebeck Bridge, Glenridding closed by Cumbria police – over hanging tree
- Askew Gate Brow, Kirkby-In-Furness – fallen trees
- The Riddings, Threlkeld – fallen tree
- Townhead, Penrith – fallen tree
- Junction of Kilgour Street and Southend Road, Penrith – Cumbria police requested urgent closure due to unsecure tiles
- Portland Walk, Barrow – overhead glass canopies shattering due to winds causing significant danger, building control required to asses
- High Street, Barrow between Slater Junction and Wallace Street – gable end partially collapsed
- Matsen Ground side of Lickbarrow – fallen tree held up by wall, risk of it falling further
Roads impacted yet passible with care:
- A593 Skelwith Bridge – tree blocking half the carriageway
- Newton Rd, Penrith – traffic signals blown over and cones across the road
- Thorny Hills, Kendal – branch blocking the pavement
Westmorland & Furness’ highways teams have reopened 64 roads.
Cumberland Council has yet to release an updated list of road closures today.
Other
Windermere Ferry is running.
West Walls car park, Carlisle
West Walls car park in Carlisle has partially reopened to the public. It was closed yesterday due to storm debris. Teams have managed to clear parts of the car park and will continue to remove the remaining debris so that the whole car park can reopen later today. Cumberland Council ask for safety, people keep to the areas that have been opened.
Waste collections
Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils have issued updates about waste and recycling collections in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn.
Cumberland Council suspended its collections yesterday, Friday January 24, while Westmorland & Furness Council was not able to complete its rounds.
For an update about your area’s collections, see here.
Buses
30 and 300 services – an earlier diversion, which meant the services are now able to serve Northside, Siddick and Dunmail Park.
South Lakes buses are running with no diversions or cancellations.
Trains
Avanti West Coast is not running trains north of Preston today. People are asked not to travel on the West Coast Main Line.
Northern said disruption had now ended to its services.
TransPennine Express is urging people not to travel today. There will be no trains running north of Carlisle.
There has been damage to some lines across the country and especially Scotland. Network Rail engineers have been working round the clock and said ‘significant work in Scotland will be needed before trains can run today’.
A major recovery operation is underway on the railway’s West Coast Main Line following Storm Eowyn.
Gusts in Cumbria reached 83mph and Network Rail said the storm brought over 60 incidents of flying debris, collapsed walls and even a roof which affected the West Coast Mainline.
Sands Centre, Carlisle
Storm Eowyn played havoc with the temporary canopy erected over the Sands Centre’s auditorium roof. The roof is being replaced after RAAC was discovered.
The Sands Centre leisure centre, Sands Centre car park and the Swifts car park will remain closed over the weekend.
Carlisle cemeteries
Carlisle cemeteries were closed yesterday and will reopen tomorrow, Sunday. People are asked not to go into cordoned-off areas.
Carlisle Cathedral
Public services have been cancelled at Carlisle Cathedral this weekend as the precinct has become unsafe.
There is strictly no access to the cathedral precinct via any of the three entrances today, Saturday January 25.
The cathedral said instead of public services, clergy will say prayers.
Forests
People are urged not to visit Cumbria’s forests this weekend as rangers assess the damage caused by Storm Eowyn.
Forestry England, which is responsible for Ennerdale, Cogra Moss, Whinlatter, Grizedale, Blengdale Forest, Hardknott, Whitbarrow, Eggerslack Woods, Dalton Crags Forest, Dodd Wood, Setmurthy, and High Stand and Coombs Wood, asked people not to visit them today due to the high risk of falling trees.
Wild Ennerdale said: “Thank you to everyone who has followed the official advice and our ask to postpone their visit to Ennerdale today as Storm Éowyn brings high winds across the country.
“While the impact of the weather is yet to be fully assessed we are asking visitors to postpone travelling to Ennerdale and other Forestry England sites in Cumbria this weekend to allow our rangers to safely inspect and make our trails safe.
“We will update as soon as we are able with more information.
“Forests and woodlands can be dangerous places to be during a storm and even once it has passed fallen trees and branches may still present a danger. Consider your safety before visiting.”
The Keswick to Threlkeld Trail is also not accessible today as workers will be assessing the damage of falling trees.
Yesterday in pictures
