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Hundreds without power as ice and wind warnings issued

Updated / Sunday, 27 Dec 2020 22:22
Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo are at risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces with wintry showers and some accumulations of snow and ice possible (File Pic)
Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo are at risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces with wintry showers and some accumulations of snow and ice possible (File Pic)

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow snow and ice warning for several counties, while around 2,600 homes are without power after Storm Bella swept across the country last night.

Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo are at risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces with wintry showers and some accumulations of snow and ice possible.

The warning is in place until 7am tomorrow.

A Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued for Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. It is valid until 2pm tomorrow.

Northwesterly winds associated with Storm Bella will reach mean speeds of 50km/h to 65km/h with gusts of 90km/h to 110km/h.

Winds will be stronger in exposed areas and on higher ground.

Meanwhile, around 2,600 homes are without power after Storm Bella swept across the country last night.

The ESB has said its crews are continuing to work on faults and all will be repaired over the course of the day. 

"Some of the faults are from this morning, as well as pockets from last night's wind," it said.

Affected areas include Crossmolina, Co Mayo, Garranebane, Co Kerry and Milford, Co Donegal.

Power has been restored to customers in Templeogue in Dublin, Kilkock in Co Kildare.

There are also snow and ice warnings in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry, valid until 3pm today.

The UK Met Office warned that icy surfaces are likely in many parts of Northern Ireland, bringing difficult travel conditions.

A further Status Yellow weather warning in the North is in place from 6pm to 10am tomorrow.

"An area of rain, sleet and snow will move south through Sunday night with the potential for icy surfaces and some travel disruption," said the UK Met Office.

People watch high waves and strong winds hitting The Four Lighthouse in western France

In France, thousands were left without electricity and planes were delayed or forced to re-route as storm Bella caused torrential rain and heavy winds in much of the north of the country.

Some 12,000 households suffered power cuts in Brittany and Normandy in northern France and up to 6,000 around the Calais region. Power company Enedis said normal electricity supplies should be restored on Sunday evening.

Over a third of flights from France's main airport of Charles de Gaulle north of Paris suffered delays of an average of 50 minutes due to the storm, the airport operator said.

Three flights heading to the airport were re-routed to Paris Orly airport south of Paris, while an Aeroflot flight landed in Amsterdam and a plane heading from Luxemburg turned back.

A top flight rugby clash between Pau and Stade Francais scheduled for the afternoon was delayed by three hours after the storm prevented the Paris-based team from taking off.

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