Updated at 3.15 GMT (10.15ET): 48k homes across Ireland left without electricity as Storm Brendan's heavy downpours and gusting winds pass over Ireland.
Storm Brendan's gusting winds of 80m/p (130km/h) have left 48,000 Irish homes and businesses across Ireland without power, while high winds also saw several flights out of Shannon being cancelled.
Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Network crews have been dispatched to the areas affected by the storm to restore power. The areas of Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork and Donegal have been the worst affected.
Aer Lingus has reported that due to Storm Brendan a number flights out of Shannon Airport have been cancelled, including those to Birmingham, Edinburgh and London Heathrow. A spokesperson apologized for the inconvenience and said customers impacted by cancelled flights can rebook their flights free of charge or apply for a refund.
Some flight delays are also expected as a result of the storm. A spokesperson for Shannon Airport speaking to TheJournal.ie advised people to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates. A spokesperson for Dublin Airport said no flights have been cancelled as of yet and there is a normal schedule currently in operation.
A Status Orange wind warning remains in place for Connacht, Donegal and Kerry until 9pm on Monday evening. A Status Red marine warning is also in place in all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish sea, with violent storm-force winds expected.
Published Jan 13, 2020, 10am GMT (5amET):
"Powerful storm" Brendan moves across Ireland with Status Orange heavy gusting winds and rainfall to bring flooding and destruction.
Status Orange weather warnings were issued to all counties in Ireland on Monday morning. Meteorological experts predicted "several hours of very dangerous weather" as Storm Brendan tracks across the island of Ireland with winds gusting up to 62m/h (100km/h).
Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann, Evelyn Cusack said the weather on Monday would "liven up considerably during the morning" as the storm grows stronger. She warned that as pressure in the west would fall rapidly, bringing high winds, rain would begin to fall in the southwest. Localized flooding, structural damage and uprooted trees are to be expected.
Speaking to the RTE radio show, Morning Ireland, Cusack said Storm Brendan will strike most fiercely along the west coast, from County Kerry to Donegal until about 10am. It will peak in the east of the country on Monday afternoon.
Cusack said, "This is a very powerful storm".
Storm Brendan originated near Canada and rapidly moved across the Atlantic, engaging in the very strong jet stream. It has undergone what meteorologists call rapid cyclogenesis.
She continued "Thankfully the storm centre is keeping out the north-west of Ireland but we are going to get several hours of very dangerous weather as the storm transfers across the country.
"It’ll be worse along the west from Kerry up to Donegal, maybe around 10/11am. And then it’ll continue to be eastwards across the country peaking on the east coast around lunchtime, perhaps first 1pm, which is a dangerous time for the little ones coming out from school. So that’s kind of the peak on the east coast."
A band of very severe and damaging winds, associated with #StormBrendan is expected to move from west to east across the country between 11am and 3pm today, gusts to 130km/h expected with potentially higher gusts in exposed areas. pic.twitter.com/W9W0AtYDRg
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 13, 2020
Those in the west of Ireland can expect to experience winds of up to 80m/p (130km/h). By Monday morning winds of 62m/h (100km/h) had already been reported at Sherkin Island, in West Cork, with winds of 58 m/p (94km/h) in Belmullet, County Mayo.
The Status Orange weather warning in the province of Connacht, Donegal and Kerry remain in effect until 9pm on Monday. The same warning is in place in the provinces of Munster, Leinster and counties Cavan and Monaghan until 3pm.
The Head of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management told TheJournal.ie that Ireland is "in for a period of very difficult weather today."
He added that a certain level of damage is expected and a lot of work has been done in preparation for the storm with local authorities, ESB, OPW, transport providers and Met Éireann.
Transport disruptions
A Status Red Marine Warning has been issued. The Irish Coast Guard service has advised people to stay away from exposed areas.
Stormy seas at Cuskinny near #Cobh Co #Cork. #StormBrendan @VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/CfvR1uxynR
— Paul Byrne (@PaulByrne_1) January 13, 2020
On Monday morning Irish Ferries services were cancelled at 8.45am and 8.45pm between Rosslare and Pembroke, while the 2.45pm Pembroke to Rosslare ferry has also been cancelled.
While there are no reports of major damage in Galway or Mayo, so far the areas worst hit by Storm Brendan, Salthill promenade has been closed as the regional road R313 between Blacksod and Belmullet.
Motorists are being urged to watch out for debris on primary and secondary routes as Storm Brendan moves across the country. Pedestrians and cyclists have been advised to delay or cancel trips while the weather warnings are in place.
As of 8am, on Monday Dublin Airport has said that no flights have been cancelled with a normal schedule in operation.
Read more: More Irish family records become available online for free
Comments