LAST UPDATE | 21 mins ago
SOME 60,000 PREMISES around the country are without power and a number of counties are affected by severe flooding as Storm Bert passes over Ireland.
The worst impacted areas include Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Cavan, Monaghan, Kerry and Cork.
ESB crews are working to restore power. The latest updates, including estimated restoration times, are available on PowerCheck.ie.
If anyone comes across fallen electricity wires, do not touch them – EBS has warned they are “live and extremely dangerous”. Instead, people have been asked to report the damaged wires by calling 1800 372 999.
⚠️Storm Bert⬇️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 23, 2024
Very wet & windy this morning with widespread rain & flooding in places as warnings still in place🌧️🌬️
Showery rain will move in from the W this afternoon, heavy at times with hail & thunder possible☔️
Very strong & gusty southerly winds will ease for a time pic.twitter.com/aCIWHlhIDZ
A number of weather warnings remain in place and further power outages are expected over the weekend.
A Status Red rain warning for Cork and Galway was in place until 10am but has now been lifted. A Status Orange rainfall warning for Clare, Kerry, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Waterford also ended at 10am.
The entire country is under a number of Status Yellow warnings.
A Status Yellow snow-ice, rain and wind warning is in place for Donegal until midday. Difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, fallen trees and localised flooding are expected, Met Éireann warned.
Killybegs in county Donegal is one of the areas worst affected by flooding.
Extreme flooding on Bridge Street in Killybegs,Donegal this morning.
— Donegal Weather Channel (@DonegalWeatherC) November 23, 2024
View weather warnings here 👉 https://t.co/bhv3YAjFoi#stormbert #flooding #Donegal #killybegs pic.twitter.com/SXkrogApA0
A Status Yellow wind and rain warning for Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Cavan and Monaghan is also in place until noon. Localised flooding, travel disruption and fallen trees are expected.
A Status Yellow wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow will kick in at 5pm today and remain in place until 2am tomorrow. Fallen trees, debris and difficult travelling conditions are expected.
Flooding this morning in Collooney, Sligo on the old Galway Road
— Donegal Weather Channel (@DonegalWeatherC) November 23, 2024
Thanks to Elizabeth Costello Holmes for sending on the video and report.https://t.co/bhv3YAjFoi#stormbert pic.twitter.com/DkKiGPD61E
Northern Ireland is also under Status Yellow alerts with a rain and snow warning currently in place until 11am, and a wind warning in place from 5am until 7pm.
Status Yellow Wind Warnings issued ⚠️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 23, 2024
🟡 Donegal - Sunday 08:00 to Monday 05:00
🟡Clare, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Mayo, & Sligo - Sunday 08:00 to 19:00.
Possible impacts
• Fallen trees 🌲
• Difficult travelling conditions 🚗
View warnings here 👇https://t.co/FhFWKx6AbX pic.twitter.com/xal3h0qsVp
Severe flooding has occurred in a number of counties, including Cork, Galway, Donegal and Kerry.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised motorists to take extra care and avoid unnecessary travel.
Killybegs in Donegal badly flooded again this morning on Bridge Street. Photo by Eileens Unisex Hairsalon. Sadly more flooding images are likely to emerge this morning. We need flood forecasting information made public!
— Carlow Weather (@carlowweather.bsky.social) November 23, 2024 at 8:45 AM
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Here's another pic of the same street, Fire brigade trying to clear it. Can't even tell how much damage done yet, but awful for the businesses there. @thomaspringle.bsky.social office on the left beside the optician. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with flooding today. #speirgorm #StormBert
— Anna Pringle (@annapr.bsky.social) November 23, 2024 at 8:54 AM
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Tree down on the Dunowla Road near Templeboy.
— Sligo County Council (@sligococo) November 23, 2024
Our Roads crew are working to remove it. @oceanfmireland @firesligo @radiomidwest @aaroadwatch pic.twitter.com/whXIYY9fpT
Bus Éireann has cancelled some services in western parts of the country, while advising all travellers to plan journeys in advance and expect delays.
A number of train services are also experiencing delays. The latest updates can be read here.
Transport for Ireland has advised people to check the status of specific transport operators before setting off.
“Please check with your transport operator before travelling as there may be delays or curtailments due to adverse weather conditions. Some services will be travelling at reduced speeds in the interests of safety,” TFI said in a statement.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) said it will continue to liaise with Met Éireann and monitor the situation, while local authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams will monitor conditions locally and use emergency response teams as required.
Met Éireann meteorologist Andrew Doran-Sherlock said the organisation is closely monitoring the situation and will upgrade warnings or issue new alerts as needed.
He said there is a strong likelihood of Status Orange wind warnings in western and northwestern counties.
The impacts from Storm Bert will continue over the weekend and potentially through early next week as well.
Dr Jennifer Keenahan, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at University College Dublin, warned that the storm’s timing is concerning because it will bring heavy rainfall onto already saturated ground.
She added that from a structural engineering perspective, Storm Bert presents several “critical concerns for our bridge infrastructure” and that the combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds creates multiple challenges.
“The saturated ground conditions significantly increase the risk of scour around bridge foundations, where fast-moving water can erode the supporting soil beneath bridge piers,” Keenaghan said.
“This is particularly worrisome when coupled with the intense rainfall predicted for this evening.
“The storm surge and wave action will create both lateral and vertical forces on bridge structures and these forces can be especially problematic as they can generate upward pressures on bridge decks.”
With reporting by Diarmuid Pepper
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