Storm Éowyn insured loss estimates are between €600-€960M
Updated 1/31/25
Industry Insured Loss Estimates
CoreLogic Hazard HQ Command Central™ released preliminary industry insured loss estimates for Storm Éowyn (Gilles) utilizing newly available, validated wind gust observation data from the U.K. Met Office.
- United Kingdom loss estimate range: €440-€720 million
- Republic of Ireland loss estimate range: €160-€240 million
This estimate also includes losses from wind damage to buildings, contents, and business interruption to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties across the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland.
Meteorological Details
Storm Éowyn formed in the Atlantic Ocean last week, and the U.K. Met Office officially named the storm on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Éowyn is the fifth named storm of the 2024-2025 season for the western group of European countries.
The storm impacted the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway.
On Wednesday, January 22, Met Éireann — the Republic of Ireland’s Met Service — issued a nationwide “Status Red” warning, which remained in effect until 12 p.m. GMT on January 24.
On Thursday, January 23, the U.K. Met Office issued a rare red weather warning that covered Northern Ireland as well as areas stretching across southern and southwestern Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. By late morning on January 24, the warning extended further to include most of Dumfries and Galloway.
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By 12 a.m. GMT on Friday, January 24, Storm Éowyn crossed the Atlantic, and its central low positioned itself approximately 300 km west of Ireland. Over the next 12 hours, the storm tracked northeast, passed north of Northern Ireland, and reached the north of Scotland. As it continued in the same direction, Storm Éowyn moved into the Norwegian Sea, skirting the Norwegian coast, and gradually weakened. By 9 a.m. GMT on Sunday, January 26, the storm’s central pressure dropped to around 970 millibars.
Storm Éowyn reached a minimum central pressure of 939 millibars, making it one of the lowest-pressure storms to impact Ireland and the U.K. in 65 years. As it approached Ireland, the storm underwent explosive cyclogenesis. To classify as a “weather bomb,” an extratropical cyclone’s central pressure must drop by 24 millibars within 24 hours. Storm Éowyn exceeded this criterion by more than double, with the central pressure dropping approximately 49 millibars over 10 hours (58 millibars in 24 hrs), according to oceanographic buoy data from Met Éireann. This made it one of the most rapidly deepening European windstorms in the last 65 years.
The Republic of Ireland experienced the most intense wind gusts. Mace Head (County Galway) recorded a record-breaking speed of 114 mph at 5 a.m. GMT on January 24, surpassing the previous record of 113 mph at Foynes (County Limerick) in 1945. Initial satellite imagery analysis attributes this to a sting jet — a localized area of very strong gusts. Notably, a sting jet also featured in the catastrophic event of The Great Storm of 1987.
A maximum wave height of 10.4 meters was recorded by the Finnis Buoy off the west coast of Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, Killowen (County Down) recorded a gust of 92 mph, the strongest wind speed in Northern Ireland since 1998 (93mph at Ballykelly in County Londonderry/Derry).
In Scotland, a gust of 101mph was recorded at Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire and weather stations at Dundrennan and Glasgow Bishopton each recorded gusts of 86 mph. Boulmer on England’s north east coast recorded a gust of approximately 83 mph. Aberdaron in North Wales recorded a maximum gust of 93 mph.
As the storm skirted Norway, gusts along the coastline reached 101 mph at Kråkenes in Vestland County.
Impact
Republic of Ireland
Across the western Province of Munster, many houses were severely damaged, with many having their roofs blown off, and there are multiple reports of caravans being completely destroyed. The Connacht GAA Air Dome (regional sports stadium) in County Mayo was irreparably damaged. Fallen trees were reported across many western counties and the widespread tree windfall continued in the east, notably a car crashed into a fallen tree in north Dublin.
The storm left more than 625,000 properties without power. ESB Networks described this as the largest number of power cuts caused by an extreme weather event in the country. Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) reported that over 138,000 properties lost access to water.
Northern Ireland
The storm damaged properties and felled trees in Belfast and County Antrim. It caused significant roof damage to the Aurora Leisure Centre in Bangor, County Down.
Bus and train services shut down during the red alert, and schools closed. The storm left more than 250,000 properties without power.
Scotland
The storm cut power to around 117,000 homes in Scotland. Rail, ferry, and many flight services were suspended, with ScotRail halting all services until Saturday, January 25. The storm felled trees and caused roof damage.
England
An IF-2 tornado hit Holywell Bay in southwestern England, damaging property and trees locally.
Wales
The storm caused widespread power outages.
Norway
The storm triggered power outages in Norway.
CoreLogic continues to monitor damage reports and may provide updates on the impact of Storm Éowyn once available.
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