Students Receive Red Warning as a Result of Storm Arwen

St Andrews is experiencing strong winds and cold weather as Storm Arwen batters the East Neuk.

A red warning has been put in place for much of Britain’s North Sea littoral from Fraserburgh to Sunderland. Along with wind, flurries of snow are also forecast in higher areas.

The wind is the main hazard and, according to the Met Office, St Andrews could experience gusts as high as 70 mph. The Met Office warns that people should expect flying debris resulting in danger to life, damage to buildings and homes, with roofs blown off and power lines brought down. Roads, bridges, and railway lines will be closed, causing delays and cancellations to bus, train, ferry services and flights. Power cuts will affect other services such as mobile phone coverage. It’s also expected that there will be large waves and beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and homes.

Students and staff received an email from the University instructing them to, “Plan to get to a place where you will be safe and can shelter, if necessary, until the storm passes. Staff should please consider any travel plans carefully, and if you can get home safely now, please do so.” The storm is not expected to pass through the west of the country.

Additionally, the Student Union has been temporarily closed, and their Winter Wonderland Event has been cancelled.

Whilst the red warning will only last till 2am on Saturday 27 November, an amber warning will persist until mid-morning. The storm is forecast to continue until Sunday when it will pass over the North Sea to the continent.

People are advised to stay indoors as much as possible and only drive if necessary.