Storm Éowyn in the West Midlands: Flights cancelled, fallen tree blocks Wolverhampton road, outdoor markets close and more

Birmingham Airport flights to and from Scotland and Ireland have been cancelled this morning (Friday) as Storm Éowyn arrives in the region, with passengers advised to check their journeys ahead of travel. 

A fallen tree has meanwhile caused disruption on the A449 Stourbridge Road near Penn in Wolverhampton which has closed northbound from A463 Wodehouse Lane to Warstones Road.

National Express West Midlands service 15, which travels between Wolverhampton and Merry Hill, and service 16, which journeys between Wolverhampton and Stourbridge, have been diverted as a result.

Writing to X, formerly Twitter, just before 7.30am on Friday (January 24), the regional bus operator said: "Due to a fallen tree there are some disruptions to services 15 and 16 heading towards Wolverhampton. 

"Buses will divert from Billy Buns Lane via Wodehouse Lane, Gospel End Road, High Street, Goldthorn Hill Lane, Penn Road and normal line of route."

Bus services were also diverted in Walsall due to a fall tree branch.

National Express West Midlands wrote to X at about 12.10pm: "Diversion - this service is diverted due to a fallen tree branch. [Service] 10 to Brownhills: Lichfield Road, Chester Road to normal line. To Walsall: Reverse of above. We apologise for any inconvenience."

The A41 Wellington Road around The Crescent in Bilston was closed on Friday afternoon due to an unsafe tree.

Writing to X at about 3.10pm, West Midlands Roads, which is part of the Transport for West Midlands group, said: "Due to an unsafe tree, the road will need to be closed to allow it to be removed. Expect delays."

In Staffordshire, highways teams at the county council had cleared five fallen trees blocking roads by about 10.30am.

Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways at the authority, said: “We’re experiencing high wind speeds across the county now and expect these to continue through today. 

"They will be strong enough to bring down branches and maybe some trees so we’d ask people to drive with care and be vigilant."

It comes as the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind across the West Midlands which will be in place until midnight on Friday.

Two more yellow weather warnings for heavy rain have been announced for Sunday and Monday. 

In and around Wolverhampton on Friday, wind gusts are currently expected to reach up to 47mph at 1pm. These are due to drop to 15mph by 1am on Saturday. 

Rail services disrupted as region battles high winds

There was also disruption on the rail lines including between Walsall and Birmingham New Street on Friday morning due to the electric overhead wires being damaged.

National Rail warned passengers of possible cancellations or delays just before 9am. Train services had however returned to normal by around 9.15am.

Avanti West Coast announced just before 11.30am services between Wolverhampton and Stafford could face cancellations or delays due to a tree blocking the rail line.

National Rail said disruption to trains running between the two stations is expected to last until 1.30pm.

A fallen tree has also blocked the rail line between Kidderminster and Birmingham Snow Hill.

West Midlands Railway warned customers of the problem at around 12.25pm. It said services running between the stations could be cancelled or delayed.

It added that rail tickets were being accepted on National Express West Midlands buses between Stourbridge Junction Town and Birmingham Snow Hill in both directions. 

In a later update at 3.30pm, West Midlands Railway wrote to X: "The fallen tree has been removed. Service recovery is in progress between Snow Hill and Kidderminster,  we are still expecting some cancellations, delays and altered services."

Elsewhere, West Midlands Metro warned passengers at 6am that trams were unable to travel to Edgbaston Village as a lorry blocked the line, though services were running as normal between Library in Birmingham and Wolverhampton Station.

This was later resolved with trams running again between Wolverhampton Station and Edgbaston Village by around 8.10am. 

Residents in St Martins in Oswestry are also without power this morning - it is expected to return at 9am. In Wales, Lake Vyrnwy saw gusts of 70 mph.

Read more:  Storm Éowyn: 'Risk to life' as high winds and rain batter the West Midlands - here's when they are due to stop

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Meanwhile, shoppers have been warned that outdoor markets in Walsall, Bloxwich, Willenhall and Bilston in Wolverhampton will be closed on Friday due to the high winds.

Writing to Facebook announcing the temporary closure of Bilston Outdoor Market, organisers said: "Due to the adverse weather expected from Storm Eowyn, Bilston Outdoor Market has been cancelled tomorrow (Friday) due to safety reasons.

"The Outdoor Market will be open as usual on Saturday. Bilston Indoor Market will open as usual on both days." 

Bilston Outdoor Market was temporarily moved to Bert Turner Boulevard/High Street/Church Street in October 2024 as work on a multi-million pound project to redevelop the market began.

On Friday, tents could be seen flat on the ground at the temporary site as the region faced high winds.

National Trust-run Shugborough Estate in Stafford also announced it would close on Friday for the "safety of visitors".

Writing to Facebook, it said: "Weather dependant, the estate will reopen on Saturday, January 25 at 11am after site safety checks have been carried out. Please check our website and social media before travelling."

Wightwick Manor and Gardens in Wolverhampton said it would be opening the National Trust-run site at a later time of 1pm due to the high winds.

Visitors have been advised The Manor and De Morgan Gallery will be open from 1:30pm.