Storm Claudia’s impact continues to be felt despite the lifting of orange and yellow weather warnings with thousands of homes, farms and businesses across the country left without power following high winds overnight.
According to ESB Networks the impact of the yellow level winds associated with the storm were “modest”, with the power out in fewer than 5,000 homes, mostly in the southern part of the country.
ESB Networks crews have been mobilised in impacted areas since yesterday and are responding to power outages when it is safe to do so. Real-time information on power outages and restoration times is available on powercheck.ie. The public have been warned that if they come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, to avoid touching or approaching the cables as they are live and extremely dangerous.
Weather forecaster Met Éireann warned people to be alert for “significant” flooding and hazardous travelling conditions.
Flooding near Newgrange in Co Meath on Friday. Photograph: Enda O’Dowd
Keith Leonard, national director for Fire and Emergency Management, said local authorities had been preparing since Thursday for heavy rainfall.
He said a risk of flooding would remain after the weather alerts lifted, as water levels could still rise, and that fallen leaves clogging drains were a “complicating factor”.
Stena Line said that some ferry services on Friday had been cancelled due to adverse weather.
In Northern Ireland, a yellow-level rain warning is in place in counties Armagh and Down until noon on Saturday, bringing a risk of flooding and hazardous travelling conditions.
Met Éireann says the weather will be rather wet and breezy this morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle and some mist patches. Some sunny spells will develop in the south during the afternoon along with well scattered showers. Elsewhere will stay mostly cloudy but becoming drier as the rain becomes patchier. Fresh to strong northeasterly winds will ease light to moderate by early afternoon. Highest temperatures are set to be between seven to 14 degrees, mildest in the south.
It will stay rather cloudy overnight for most but largely dry with just a few spots of light rain or drizzle along with some patchy mist. Lowest temperatures of four to nine degrees generally in light to moderate northeasterly breezes. It will become clearer and colder for Ulster though with temperatures falling between two and six degrees.
The forecaster says tomorrow will be dry for most tomorrow with a mix of cloud and sunny spells at first along with the odd spot of light rain or drizzle. – Additional reporting PA
