Across the nation, numerous residences, commercial establishments and agricultural areas, approximately 34,000 in total, are experiencing power outages on this Saturday afternoon due to the wrath of Storm Kathleen. Predominantly, these areas are within the borders of Mayo, Galway, Kerry, and Cork, according to ESB Networks. Crews have been dispatched to the hardest-hit areas, hoping to rectify the issue. However, further disruptions are likely throughout the day.
Travel has also been impacted, with the storm causing disruption in railway services on the Heuston-Kildare-Galway line and Connolly-Sligo route due to trees falling onto the tracks. This has resulted in a domino effect of delays in other services due to line congestion, Irish Rail stated.
Dublin Airport reported smooth operations for departures and arrivals this morning, but still advised passengers to remain vigilant and check specific flight updates with their airlines.
ESB Networks is consistently keeping an eye on the developing situation, and providing real-time updates regarding power outages and restoration timelines on their website, www.PowerCheck.ie. The company’s spokesperson expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience that the outages have caused.
Regarding weather predictions, there’s an orange wind warning declared in areas of Cork, Kerry and Waterford till 2pm. Similarly, Mayo and Galway are under the same warning until 6pm. The remainder of the country is under a yellow wind warning until 8pm.
Met Éireann cautioned the public about travel complications, power outages, potential tree falls, coastal flooding and wave overtopping due to severe winds. Storm Kathleen’s intense winds, clocking in around 50 kms per hour, are majorly disrupting Munster, with fallen trees damaging power lines and leaving thousands of homes and businesses power-less by Saturday morning.
Areas in Cork have taken the hardest hit, with numerous downed trees affecting power lines city-wide and across the county. Kerry has also experienced the storm’s effects while some areas in Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick found themselves facing power outages this morning.
In the aftermath of Storm Kathleen, Whitechurch, a town located 10km north of the city of Cork, was one of the hardest areas hit with over 1,600 homes left powerless, coupled with 700 establishments in North Cork’s Mitchelstown enduring the same fate. Various areas across the county also reported electricity blackout.
Kerry didn’t escape the storm either, with electricity supply disruptions in Killarney affecting over 600 homes and businesses, Valentia Island, Rathmore, Castleisland, Causeway, as well as in Limerick’s numerous areas, including Bruff and Dromcollogher where more than a thousand households lost power.
Despite originating from the southwest, Storm Kathleen wrought havoc even further afield, with Clonmel in Co Tipperary being severely impacted by fallen trees that took down a power line, disrupting the power supply to more than 1,800 homes. A similar fate struck approximately 50 homes at Lismore in Co Waterford.
The persistent strong winds are making recovery efforts challenging, and ESB Networks have estimated that power will be restored by 6pm. However, the situation is fluid, with intensifying winds potentially causing more trees to fall as Storm Kathleen sweeps through the nation.
Concurrently, the gardaí are urging drivers to be vigilant on the roads during this storm, as several deteriorating conditions due to downed trees and other debris have been reported in western Cork, Kerry, and outside the city of Cork.
Kerry County Council has announced that Tralee Town Park and Playground will remain shut all Saturday, likewise, the Killarney House & Gardens and Muckross House will be closed for the day.
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, the Met Office has sounded a yellow wind warning for the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry, effective from 8am to 10pm. Stormy showers, robust to gale force southerly winds, and possibly severe gales have been forecasted for the Antrim and Down coasts, alongside gusts reaching a maximum speed of 70mph in some exposed and coastal regions. The Portaferry Road outside Newtownards was deemed unnavigable due to flooding around midday.
Storm Kathleen, a significant low-pressure system, is travelling off the west coast bringing potent southerly winds and destructive gusts nationwide.
The crisis management team of The National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) convened a briefing from Met Éireann on Friday morning to assess the potential effects of the storm. Keith Leonard, the national director of the NDFEM, encouraged the public to abstain from visiting coastal regions for the section of time in which the Met Éireann warnings are in effect.
Leonard stressed that powerful winds pose a particular risk to weaker road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and high sided vehicles, turning driving conditions treacherous. He advised citizens to be particularly vigilant about the dangers presented by downed trees and airborne debris.
Leonard further cautioned, “In paramount importance, I urge everyone to never approach or handle fallen electricity wires. For your safety, maintain distance from collapsed or harmed electrical wires and should you come across any, please promptly inform ESB Networks by dialling 1800 372 999.”
Furthermore, The Road Safety Authority (RSA) urged individuals to be prudent while operating vehicles on the roads on Saturday. The PA contributed additional reportage to this story.