Storm Chandra: 30,000 left without power as flooding causes travel chaos
People walking through flooded roads in Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Some 30,000 homes and businesses have been left without power across Ireland as Storm Chandra made landfall overnight.
A status yellow wind warning is in place for all of Ireland until 11pm on Tuesday. Met Éireann said winds associated with Storm Chandra "will be very strong and gusty, particularly on coasts and in exposed areas".
Around 30,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power, ESB has said.
ESB crews have been mobilised and are working to assess the damage and restore the electricity supply.
Motorists have been warned only one lane is open on the M50 at present between J13 Dundrum and J12 Firhouse, following a collision.
Director of Corporate Communications at Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Sean O'Neill has urged people to consider working from home today.
“We ask everyone who needs to use that section of the M50 to please, if they can, delay their journey, take some time at home, talk to your employer. It's just not going to be productive time spent. We have crews on site, we're dealing with the incident, but I do not have a time yet on when the issue will be resolved,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Iarnród Éireann have also warned major disruptions are expected to DART and commuter services with reports of flooding at several locations.
Phoenix Park Tunnel had been closed due to flooding, but has now reopened.
Iarnród Éireann said up to 25-minute delays can be expected for some of their services due to congestion.
Dublin Fire Brigade have said crews are at a number of locations, due to flooding incidents.
Dublin Airport has warned the storm is impacting flight operations this Tuesday morning, and that disruption is possible.
They have advised passengers to contact their airlines to check on the status of their flights.
A number of flights were diverted to Shannon Airport this morning due to high winds at Dublin Airport.
A Titan Airways cargo service was also diverted from Dublin due to the weather conditions.
This comes as at least 30 flights at Belfast City Airport have been cancelled.
Meanwhile in Limerick, The Irish Horse Racing Board said in a statement the track was deemed unfit for racing due to waterlogged course, following an inspection.
In Waterford, the Military Road in Dungarvan is closed due to flooding, the local authorities have said.
The winds may cause fallen trees, loose debris, wave overtopping, and hazardous travel conditions, the forecaster warned.
A status yellow rain warning is also in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford until 11pm on Tuesday. Bands of rain associated with the storm are expected to be heavy and persistent, falling on already saturated ground.
The forecaster is warning of localised flooding, river flooding, and difficult travel conditions in affected counties.
In the North, the British Met Office has issued a status orange wind warning for Antrim, Down, and Derry from 5am until 9pm on Tuesday. All of Northern Ireland will also be under a status yellow wind and rain warning for the entirety of Tuesday.
More than 300 schools have been closed in the North, as a yellow rainfall alert currently in place for counties Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Derry and Tyrone.
“Storm Chandra is a low-pressure system that will track northwards over the country Monday night and Tuesday, bringing with it rather wet and windy conditions. It will bring heavy spells of rain with strong winds, especially along the coast. It will slowly clear northwards later on Tuesday," said Met Éireann meteorologist Rebecca Cantwell.
Ms Catnwell said that the winds will be "strongest near coasts and exposed areas with wave overtopping possible and so we echo the well-known advice of the Irish Coast Guard: 'Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry'.
"In summary, stay back from rivers, lakes and the coasts and avoid flooded roads, following the latest guidance from your local authority and road authorities."
Meanwhile, Wednesday will see better weather with bright or sunny spells with some showers, these most frequent in the south and west.
Met Éireann said there "will be a fair amount of dry weather in the east and north".
Thursday will see a return of showers, while Friday will be "rather cloudy overall with further showers or longer spells of rain".
Heading into the weekend, Met Éireann said there will be "little change with the chance of showers or longer spells of rain persisting across most areas as low pressure continues to dominate".
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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