Storm Eunice: Trees fall on houses and cars and roofs ripped off as South Yorkshire counts cost of damage

South Yorkshire residents have been left picking up the pieces of Storm Eunice after one of the worst storms in decades battered the UK yesterday.
South Yorkshire has been left counting the cost of Storm Eunice after falling trees and flying debris caused havoc.South Yorkshire has been left counting the cost of Storm Eunice after falling trees and flying debris caused havoc.
South Yorkshire has been left counting the cost of Storm Eunice after falling trees and flying debris caused havoc.

After Met Office forecasts that the worst of the storm would hit by 3pm yesterday, residents may have thought they had been spared the promise of 62mph winds hitting the county.

But instead, the gales arrived towards 5pm, and many residents are now counting the cost.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Residents have reported damaged roofs, falling trees and flying debris causing havoc across the region.

Dozens of flights have been cancelled today as high winds batter the nation. A livestream by plane spotter Big Jets TV has shown hundreds of thousands viewers the difficulties of landing today. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)Dozens of flights have been cancelled today as high winds batter the nation. A livestream by plane spotter Big Jets TV has shown hundreds of thousands viewers the difficulties of landing today. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Dozens of flights have been cancelled today as high winds batter the nation. A livestream by plane spotter Big Jets TV has shown hundreds of thousands viewers the difficulties of landing today. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

It is not yet know if anyone has been injured by the storm, which brought with it an Amber weather warning that meant there was a “good chance” of danger posed to life.

At least three deaths were confirmed across the UK yesterday; a woman in her 30s in North London was crushed by a falling tree while in her car; a man in his 50s died in Merseyside after debris struck the windscreen of a vehicle he was travelling in and a man in Ireland was also killed by a falling tree.

In Sheffield, the worst of the damage came at 5pm when the rain and winds were at their highest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Customers had to be ushered out the doors at the Aldi supermarket on St Mary’s Gate after winds blew a piece of the roof away. Staff could not say when the store would reopen.

An approximately 40-ft sycamore tree in a resident's garden on Myrtle Road fell and blocked the junction with East Bank.An approximately 40-ft sycamore tree in a resident's garden on Myrtle Road fell and blocked the junction with East Bank.
An approximately 40-ft sycamore tree in a resident's garden on Myrtle Road fell and blocked the junction with East Bank.

On Myrtle Road, Heeley, a dramatic video by resident Amy Palmer showed how an approximately 40-ft tall Eucalyptus tree in a resident’s front garden toppled in the wind and nearly entirely blocked the junction with East Bank.

Another tree came down in Archer Road and was tackled by the council’s Streets Ahead team. The gritter team was also out overnight on priority routes.

Community groups on Facebook also reported trees crashing to earth on Slayleigh Lane in Fulwood and on Ringinglow Road.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Trains were unable to run from Chinley towards Sheffield due to a tree blocking the line. It came after millions of people were advised to cancel their train journeys by rail providers.

Customers were evacuated from Aldi on St Mary's Gate today after a piece of the roof was blown off by Storm Eunice.Customers were evacuated from Aldi on St Mary's Gate today after a piece of the roof was blown off by Storm Eunice.
Customers were evacuated from Aldi on St Mary's Gate today after a piece of the roof was blown off by Storm Eunice.

On the roads, the M1 was closed for over an hour between Wakefield and Morley after two lorries overturned in the high winds.

It caused further chaos for the motorway, which also saw the Tinsley Viaduct shut to high sided vehicles from around 5pm to prevent them being exposed to 60mph winds.

Residents in Doncaster were particularly hard hit.

A shocking video was shared by one resident showing how a roadside tree on Ward Avenue had crashed through a resident’s fence and landed squarely on their house, causing severe damage.

Storm Eunice is set to cause major disruption in Sheffield today, less than 48 hours after Storm Dudley brought down a number of trees, including this one in Dobcroft RoadStorm Eunice is set to cause major disruption in Sheffield today, less than 48 hours after Storm Dudley brought down a number of trees, including this one in Dobcroft Road
Storm Eunice is set to cause major disruption in Sheffield today, less than 48 hours after Storm Dudley brought down a number of trees, including this one in Dobcroft Road
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Further photos across community Facebook groups reported power outages, a loss of running water, and flying debris crashing into properties.

Residents in Wheatley claimed they lost running water from around 5pm. Trees fell in Cantley, Rossington, Lakeside, as well as on Doncaster Road outside the Owston Pub.

There were also unconfirmed reports of a tree falling on trail lines in the Armthorpe area, with residents hearing ‘three loud bangs’ at around 5.10pm.

The tail end of Storm Eunice was forecast to abate by 3am today, but the Met Office has warned that bad weather is still on the cards today.