4,500,000 people sent emergency alert to their phones over Storm Eowyn
Millions of phones blared to the sound of a 10-second siren this evening after the Government issued an emergency alert over Storm Eowyn.
The Met Office earlier issued a red danger to life warning for wind across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
The emergency alert system sent a message to every compatible mobile phone in areas covered by the warning.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on Storm Eowyn
It comes as forecasters warned Storm Eowyn could bring winds of up to 100mph in areas affected by the rare weather alert across Scotland, Northern Ireland and north Wales on Friday.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: ‘In light of the deteriorating weather conditions and associated disruption, and in consultation with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the Cabinet Office will issue emergency alerts early this evening to people affected by the warnings in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.
‘Mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent. The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.
‘Approximately 4.5 million people will receive the emergency alert in the largest real-life use of the tool to date.’
Rail services have been axed, schools forced to close and people told not to travel as the UK braces for the ‘threat to life’ red weather warnings.
Red weather warnings have been issued for wind in Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm on Friday, and for western and central areas of Scotland between 10am and 5pm.
Train operator ScotRail has suspended all services across Scotland on Friday, saying it ‘would not be safe to operate passenger services due to forecast weather conditions’.
Passengers and motorists in areas covered by red and amber weather warnings have been told to avoid travel ‘unless absolutely essential’.
It comes as schools in Scotland were advised to close on Friday for the safety of children and staff.
What happens during the EAS alert and why?
What will happen?
Millions of mobile phones and tablets across the UK will emit a loud alarm and vibrate.
The message will be received on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.
The alarm will sound even if the device is set on silent.
Do I need to do anything?
Phone users will be prompted to acknowledge the alert by swiping or clicking the message before being able to continue using their device.
What is the purpose of this system?
The system, which is modelled on similar schemes in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires.
Who sends the alerts?
Emergency alerts will only be sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.
Should I turn on location services on my phone to ensure I receive alerts?
The Government said you will get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work, and you do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.
What if the alert comes through when I am driving?
The Government is urging people to not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding.
You are advised to find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message, and if there is nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency.
The AA said motorists may prefer to switch off their electronic devices before Sunday’s test as laws banning the use of handheld phones will still apply.
Can I opt out of the alerts?
Officials stressed that it is easy to opt out of the system if people need their phone to stay concealed, either by turning off the alerts or simply having the phone switched off during the test.