Storm Darragh: Disruption lingers as some to be left without power for a week
In John Weekend O'grady Greenhills Estate Storm Mayo Over The Ballina, Picture: Darragh The Damage Co In
Around 35,000 homes and businesses were still without power on Monday morning, as the clean up from the impact of Storm Darragh continues.
The ESB said nearly 400,000 customers had lost power on Saturday, with damage caused by the storm having a widespread impact on the country's electricity supply.
On Monday, ESB Networks confirmed it had restored power to 360,000 customers since Saturday. Work is ongoing to restore service to a further 35,000 homes, farms, and businesses in the Northwest, Midlands and Southeast.
"All ESB Networks crews and partner contractors mobilised again at first light to continue to safely restore power to as many customers as possible in challenging conditions," an ESB Networks spokesperson told the .
#StormDarragh Update: ESB Networks teams restore electricity supply to 340,000 customers. Thank you for your patience.
— ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) December 8, 2024
Press release: https://t.co/c2o6k9fGsj pic.twitter.com/NXGcb1eU0W
The spokesperson added that, due to the severity and significant scale of the damage, some customers could be without power for "approximately a week".
"Assessment of the extent of damage is continuing," the spokesperson said.
Status red and orange wind warnings were issued by Met Éireann late last week ahead of the impact of Storm Darragh.
When the storm hit, transport services across the country were disrupted with flights out of Cork, Dublin, and Shannon airports affected, and ferry sailings cancelled. Train and bus services were also disrupted due to high winds and fallen trees. According to Met Éireann, a gust of 141km/h was recorded in Co Galway on Friday night.
Thankfully, Met Éireann's forecast for the coming days is much less extreme.
Monday is set to be a dry and sunny day in most areas, though temperatures will not rise higher than around 9C. There is also a chance of some showers in the east and southeast, the forecaster said.
Monday night will be cold and dry, with frost, fog, and even some freezing fog expected. Lowest temperatures tonight will be around -3C to 2C.
Frost will clear to leave a dry day for most with winter sunshine occurring widely🔆
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 9, 2024
However, cloud & some showers will feed into eastern areas⛅️🌦️
Highs of 5 to 9 C 🌡️ coldest further west, all in light to moderate northeasterly breeze🍃
ℹ️https://t.co/sFyGizB5AS pic.twitter.com/hPbscNGysP
Tuesday looks set to be quite similar to Monday, with overnight frost and fog clearing gradually in the morning, but lingering longer across the northwest.
Highest temperatures tomorrow will range from 3C to 7C but it will be slightly colder in areas where fog persists.
On Tuesday night, Met Éireann says there will once again be some "widespread sharp frost and icy stretches" as well as some fog. Temperatures tomorrow night will drop down to around -3C.
At present, Wednesday is predicted to be a dry but generally quite dull day, with overnight mist and fog again clearing slowly on Wednesday morning.
Temperatures during the day on Wednesday will range from just 1C to 6C, and it will be coldest across the western half of the country. Wednesday night will be another calm, cold, and frosty night with yet more widespread fog forecast. Temperatures on Wednesday night will again be at around -3C.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.