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Over 1,500 homes across Clare and Galway were still without power this morning as winds from yesterday’s storm continued to abate.
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| Salthill yesterday. Pic Fiona Gavin |
At the height of the storm 10,000 ESB customers were without power. Parts of the country worst affected included Lettermore in County Galway and Ennis in County Clare.
Transport services throughout Ireland were also affected by the winter storm, which saw gusts reach in excess of 120 to 140kph in exposed parts of the north and west.
Luas and Dart services in Dublin were delayed for a time as were a number of flights in and out of Dublin Airport. Meanwhile, Irish Ferries were forced to cancel sailings on their Rosslare-Pembroke routes while Stenaline cancelled sailings from Dublin and Rosslare. A number of services to and from Belfast and Larne have also been cancelled or postponed to a later time.
Fallen trees and power lines also led to dangerous driving conditions, particularly in western and north western coastal counties. A number of trees fell in the Cratloe and Newmarket on Fergus areas of County Clare, as well as on the Cloughjordan Road and Limerick roads out of Nenagh in County Tipperary. High winds also brought down trees in the Athenry area of County Galway, where council workers were called in to clear the roads.
Flooding was also experienced in parts of the midlands, particularly in Athlone. In Limerick City sandbags were put in place on Bishop, Howley and Harvey Quays after some flooding was experienced in the O'Callaghan Strand and Clancy Strand areas of the city.
Scores of ships and fishing boats were taken to shelter in harbours from Donegal to Kerry. Galway Harbour Master Capt Brian Sheridan described the conditions as the worst experienced so far this year.
Elsewhere, a man was treated for minor injuries at the midlands regional hospital after he was struck by timber which fell from a building during high winds in Mullingar, Co Westmeath yesterday afternoon.
iWeather Online forecaster Peter O’Donnell says that the winds will remain strong in parts throughout Friday but will abate significantly in the south of the country.
“Friday will continue rather windy at times especially across the north, although nowhere near as stormy as yesterday. Westerly winds will average at 20-40 mph but closer to 10-25 mph southern counties. There will be some passing showers throughout the day, some of which may turn heavy in the west and north. It will be a fresh day with highs of 9 to 11c”, he added.
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| Rough seas off Achill. Pic Winger-pl |
Flooding was also experienced in parts of the midlands, particularly in Athlone. In Limerick City sandbags were put in place on Bishop, Howley and Harvey Quays after some flooding was experienced in the O'Callaghan Strand and Clancy Strand areas of the city.
Scores of ships and fishing boats were taken to shelter in harbours from Donegal to Kerry. Galway Harbour Master Capt Brian Sheridan described the conditions as the worst experienced so far this year.
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| The sea in Mayo. Pic snow ghost |
iWeather Online forecaster Peter O’Donnell says that the winds will remain strong in parts throughout Friday but will abate significantly in the south of the country.
“Friday will continue rather windy at times especially across the north, although nowhere near as stormy as yesterday. Westerly winds will average at 20-40 mph but closer to 10-25 mph southern counties. There will be some passing showers throughout the day, some of which may turn heavy in the west and north. It will be a fresh day with highs of 9 to 11c”, he added.
To view the Long Range Weather Forecast click here