LAST UPDATE | 26 Apr 2019

CLOSE TO 21,000 homes and businesses are without power in the southwest as Storm Hannah hits the country.

A Status Red wind warning was in place for Clare until 11pm, with the storm bringing winds with mean speeds of over 80km/h and violent gusts of 130 to 150 km/h.

A Status Orange warning remains in place for Kerry, Galway, Cork and Limerick, with a further warning to kick in for counties Tipperary and Waterford later tonight. 

A red warning was in place for Kerry until 8pm this evening. 

As Status Yellow warning has now been issued for Dublin, coming into effect at 11pm and lasting until 10am tomorrow.

A Status Yellow warning has also been issued for Connacht, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Offaly, Donegal, Tipperary and Waterford for between 11pm tonight and 10am tomorrow. 

According to the ESB, as of 11pm this evening around 21,000 homes and businesses are without electricity in Kerry, Cork and Clare this evening as a result of the high winds. 

Earlier, around 10,000 customers were affected. 

“Gale force winds associated with Storm Hannah this evening have caused damage to the electricity network affecting approximately 10,000 homes, farms and businesses, predominantly in counties Kerry and Cork,” an ESB spokesperson said in an earlier update. 

With the storm continuing to track across other counties, further damage to the network can be expected. The damage is mainly attributable to trees falling on overhead lines as a result of the high winds, which have been recorded as in excess of 130 km/h.

ESB said it had mobilised and is in the process of despatching repair crews to affected areas to make the electricity network safe, assess the damage caused and safely restore power as quickly and effectively as possible. 

You can check ESB Power Checker for the latest updates in your area. 

Traffic disruptions 

Storm Hannah is also causing widespread traffic disruptions in the affected areas. 

AA Roadwatch has advised people in Kerry and Clare not to travel during the period of the Status Red warning. 

In Kerry, a large number of fallen trees are blocking road. AA Roadwatch advises that “extreme caution” is needed while the Status Orange warning remains in place.

There are also fallen trees and debris reported on road in Counties Cork, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford.

Keep an eye on the AA Roadwatch website for the latest details.  

The Road Safety Authority has also issued advice to road users. People are told to check local and national weather forecasts and traffic updates before setting out on a journey.

In extreme weather conditions it is best to avoid making a journey by road unless absolutely necessary. The golden driving rule, it says, is to “drive with care and caution – expect the unexpected”.

The RNLI Lifeboat crew at Castletownbere was launched earlier this evening to assist a 33ft fishing vessel which had lost all power in Bere Haven Harbour in West Cork. The crew battled sea conditions to assist the vessel with a crew of two people onboard.

Meanwhile, Bus Éireann said that services in Clare, Kerry, Limerick and other areas had been affected by the storm. 

A number of flights have also been cancelled at Cork, Kerry and Shannon Airports as a result of the storms.

Aer Lingus flight EI723 from London to Cork tried in land in Cork earlier but was diverted to Dublin.