Storm Éowyn set to close Edinburgh Universities due to significant ‘danger to life’

Both Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Napier have announced the closure of all university buildings and cancellation of teaching amid safety concerns.

Storm Éowyn is expected to bring winds of up to 100mp/h (168km/h) to large areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Edinburgh, alongside the rest of the Central Belt, has been placed under a red weather warning for wind.

Edinburgh Napier told students “Do not attend campus” citing that the winds pose a “danger to life”.

Emergency alerts were sent to millions of residents across affected areas urging people to “stay in doors” where possible.

Edinburgh University told students “The University will be closed and no teaching, in-person and online, will be taking place on Friday 24 January.

“We will seek to make sure that this missed teaching is recovered through the remainder of the Semester.”

The closures include Edinburgh University’s main library, which is usually open 24 hours a day.

The Met Office has warned that flying debris, power cuts and damage to buildings pose serious risks during the storm.

The storm has caused major disruption with ScotRail cancelling all trains tomorrow and Lothian Busses cancelling all services between 10am and 5pm.