Storms to continue until next week
The conditions had a major impact on roads, with fallen trees and debris causing disruption to motorists in many parts of the country during the morning.
In Dublin, gardaí were forced to close one of the city centre’s busiest streets to traffic and pedestrians after slates from a roof were blown from a number of buildings. Emergency services kept South Great Georges’ Street closed for a number of hours while efforts were made to secure the loose slates.
The gusts were enough to topple a number of articulated trucks, two of them in Co Dublin. One overturned on the N2 Dublin to Derry road near Ashbourne, Co Meath, and another on the flyover at the M1 at the Stockhole Lane roundabout.
AA Roadwatch reported a number of roads being blocked by trees in Meath, Kildare, Laois and Offaly, while similar incidents and downed power lines kept emergency services in the Cavan and Monaghan region busy.
At one stage yesterday morning, eight major routes in Co Monaghan were blocked due to fallen trees and parts of the N2 Dublin to Derry road was closed in a number of places. A driver and two passengers had a lucky escape when a tree fell on their car on the Monaghan-Clones road but nobody was injured.
By late afternoon, most roads in the region were reopened while ESB and eircom staff were working hard to restore lost services.
With stormy conditions expected in some areas over the coming days, AA Roadwatch advised caution on the roads.
“Motorists should drive with extreme care, especially in exposed areas, if there are high winds or debris in the roads. Reduce your speed, stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front and also be particularly mindful of pedestrians and cyclists,” a spokesperson said.
Ferry and air passengers also faced disruption yesterday, with Irish Ferries canceling all Swift sailings, and instead accommodating booked customers on its cruise vessel MV Ulysses. The adverse weather conditions also forced Stena Line to cancel yesterday’s Rosslare-Fishguard services and its Dublin-Holyhead services were delayed yesterday evening.
Aer Arann was forced to cancel a number of flights because of yesterday morning’s high winds, and Ryanair had to divert a Cork-bound flight from Stansted to Shannon and cancel the return service.
The outlook for the weekend is bleak, according to Met Éireann.
It is expected to be cloudy today, although winds are expected to ease and turn more southerly, compared to the gusts of almost 160km an hour felt in some places yesterday. They are predicted to strengthen again tomorrow in the northern half of the country, particularly in Connacht where wind speeds will average 65km an hour.
Most parts of the country can expect persistent heavy rain this afternoon, especially in western areas. But as the rain eases to showers beginning in the east, sheltered areas can expect frost overnight.
Met Éireann says heavy showers will continue tomorrow and Sunday, particularly in west Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
