Storm Isha battered the island of Ireland with “devastating” winds on Sunday, leaving thousands of homes without power and airport operations suspended.
More than 170,000 homes, farms and businesses were without power as of 9 p.m., the ESB said, with more expected overnight.
Counties most affected by the power outage include Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Kerry.
People were urged to heed wind warnings and avoid unnecessary travel as the most severe gale warning was issued on Sunday night.
#corktraffic Report the shack at Begley’s Forge in Ovens (I don’t even know how to report it… Escaped?). #Storm Isha pic.twitter.com/U6bMqZjbdz
— Cork Safety Alert (@CorkSafetyAlert) January 21, 2024
In Mayo, gardaí are investigating whether high winds caused a road crash that killed a motorist in the south of the county on Sunday night.
The victim was the driver of a car that veered off State Highway 17 between Claremorris and Ballindine at around 6.30pm.
A status red warning is currently in place for Donegal and will remain in place until 1am on Monday.
An orange alert is currently in place for the rest of the country and will remain in place until 2am.
Storm Isha’s “severe and destructive wind gusts” are expected to hit the country with strong winds of up to 130km/h.
The metal clock tower atop 13 on the Green Bar in Galway City’s Eyre Square fell onto the path below as a Status Red warning came into effect at 5pm.
On Sunday morning, Paul Locke, chairman of the National Emergency Coordination Council, which coordinates the Irish government’s response, said the storm was “particularly bad”.
“We don’t want anyone to die because of this storm,” he told RTÉ radio.
Mr Locke urged all road users to avoid coastal areas and to be aware of dangerous conditions such as debris and avoid touching downed power lines while the Met Alien warning is in place.
He said delays were expected at ports and airports, as well as some public transport services, and urged people to check online to see if services had been interrupted.
He expects schools to open as normal on Monday as the alert expires early in the morning.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organization (TORRO) issued a nationwide tornado watch through Sunday.
The group said: “There is a risk of several tornadoes, with strong shear forces potentially producing strong tornadoes, particularly across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
It also warned that while the warning is in effect, there is a possibility of wind gusts of up to 100km/h and hailstones up to 20mm in diameter.
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly said these events were “very difficult to predict and, if they did occur, they would be localized”.
The public is advised to stay indoors during the warning due to “dangerous driving conditions” and dangerous coastal conditions.
There was also a risk of “large scale and widespread power outages”, forecasters warned.
Alien Buses suspended its services between towns, cities and cities in County Mayo and Galway from 4pm on Sunday.
Many flights were canceled or delayed at Irish airports as Storm Isha intensified on Sunday afternoon.
The storm is causing “significant difficulties” to flight operations at Dublin Airport, with airlines canceling a total of 114 flights as of 7pm, with 58 arriving and 56 departing, and 36 being rescheduled to other airports. It was announced that the destination had been changed.
The Highway Safety Authority warns all road users to advise all road users after the storm passes, as dangerous conditions such as flooding, downed pylons, railway tracks, trees and other debris blocking roads may occur. We advise you to be aware of the dangers.
In Cork, the Cross River ferry to Cobh is suspended due to the storm. Service is scheduled to resume at 6:15am tomorrow morning.
Heavy rain from the storm has caused localized flooding in parts of Cork, with flooding also reported in the village of Drina.
Cork County Council advised people to “keep well, stay dry and stay away from beaches, rivers and lakes” and avoid visiting beaches and mountain areas while the warning remains in place. He called on people to refrain from doing so.
A number of fallen trees have been reported in parts of Cork, including on the R595 Baltimore Road, Skibbereen, between Kerry Pike and Cloggeen, and on the N25 westbound, the slide just before the N40/Jack Lynch Tunnel. has been reported.
Issues such as fallen trees, flooding or road damage can be reported on 021 4800048 during business hours (5pm to 9am on weekends and public holidays) or 021 4276891.