Storm Éowyn: Record-breaking 183km/h gusts registered in Galway

Storm Éowyn is expected to hit the country hard today.  File picture

A number of status red wind warnings remain in place as Storm Éowyn batters the country, bringing devastating winds and widespread power outages. 

Gusts reached a record-breaking 183km/h at Mace Head in Galway before the station was knocked offline shortly after 6am, according to Met Éireann.

The mean wind speed of 130km/h at Mace Head qualifies as hurricane-force, underscoring the storm's intensity. 

Several weather stations along the west coast have been disrupted by the extreme conditions.

The storm has caused significant damage to the electricity network, leaving over 715,000 homes, farms, and businesses without power as of 8am this morning. 

ESB Networks warns that power restoration will likely take several days due to the widespread and severe damage.

The first power outages were reported in Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Clare but as the fast-moving storm tracks north-eastwards today, it is expected to leave widespread power cuts in its wake.

ESB Networks said it could be mid-morning before it has a full picture of the damage but its crews and partner contractors around the country are poised to respond as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Based on previous experience of similar windstorms, ESB Networks anticipates power restoration will take many days to complete,” a spokesman said.

“Given the predicted extent of the damage nationwide, estimated restoration times will only be provided once our teams have assessed network faults and these will then be available to view throughout Saturday on powercheck.ie.” 

With the entire country under a red weather alert at different times today, a ‘shelter in place’ advisory is in effect to protect life.

Crews from Lagan Operations and Maintenance Ltd, which maintains the M8 motorway, implement emergency closure of the Blackwater viaduct on the M8 near Fermoy, Co Cork, overnight as Storm Éowyn hits.

Local authorities are on standby to respond but have warned that the recovery and clean-up operation will pose significant challenges and will continue through the weekend.

Schools, colleges, childcare facilities, and most public buildings and facilities, including libraries, parks, swimming pools, and some visitor attractions, will be closed today.

There will be widespread disruption to public transport, with all Bus Eireann services suspended during the red alert and further disruptions likely after the alerts expire to allow time to assess any damage on routes and restart services.

Hundreds of non-essential hospital and medical appointments have been cancelled and An Post deliveries have been suspended.

Kidney dialysis patients and nurses stayed overnight in the Munster Kidney Support Centre, operated by the Irish Kidney Association, close to Cork University Hospital, so they will not miss out on vital treatment today, which has been delayed from a 7am to noon start.

In Dublin, the Beaumont Hospital dialysis unit will be closed on Friday but patients are being contacted and rescheduled for dialysis over Saturday and Sunday.

Despite a yellow weather warning for rain in Cork city, the authorities said they do not expect river or tidal flooding.

Cork City Council said it is working with Cork Simon Outreach, Community Policing, Good Shepherd Services, De Paul Ireland, and others to provide support to rough sleepers.

“The council has access to additional beds in multiple locations so that all rough sleepers can be facilitated, should they accept an offer of a bed,” a spokesperson said.

Weather Warnings

Met Éireann has updated a number of their weather warnings. Previously, the entire country had been under an orange warning until 4pm but that has now changed.

Here's the situation:

• A status red wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Limerick and Waterford has been in place since 2am and will remain until 10am;
• A status red wind warning for Clare and Galway has been in place since 3am and will remain until 11am;
• A status red wind warning for Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo has been in place since 4am and will remain until 12pm;
• A status red wind warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary has been in place since 6am and will remain until 11am;
• A status red wind warning for Donegal has been in place since 7am and will remain until 2pm;
• A status orange wind warning for the whole country has been in place since midnight and will remain until 12pm.

Three warnings will come into effect later today. They are:

• A status orange wind warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Connacht, Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath which will be in place from 12pm until 4pm;
• A status yellow wind warning for all of Munster as well as Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow which will be in place from 12pm until 4pm;
• A status yellow wind warning for Donegal which will be in place from 4pm until 11pm.