Hundreds without power as Storm Rachel hits

Hundreds of families remained without power overnight after the fierce Atlantic storm, which crashed into the country blacking out homes, grounding flights, halting ferry crossings and delaying countless rail and road commuters.

Emergency crews battled throughout yesterday to restore electricity to up to 20,000 households as violent gusts and torrential rain battered the western seaboard before spreading across the country.

At one stage, four national weather warnings were in place including the most severe, a Status Red alert.