NI weather: Yellow weather warning for wind issued

There are approximately 101,000 customers still without power in Northern Ireland following the devastation caused to the electricity network by Storm Éowyn.

A yellow weather warning for wind will be in place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

The warning will last from 10:00 to 19:00 GMT with many areas experiencing gusts up to 40-60 mph.

A yellow warning was also issued for snow and ice from 18:00 GMT on Saturday to 10:00 on Sunday.

It comes two days after Storm Éowyn brought winds of more than 90mph to Northern Ireland.

“Given ongoing recovery work after Storm Éowyn, impacts may be more widespread than would ordinarily be expected with winds of this strength,” the Met Office said.

The managing director of NIE Networks said power has now been restored to 183,000 properties.

Derek Hynes also said: “We believe that it will be around 10 days by the time we complete the repairs needed to get power back to everyone.”

The Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) have warned people to take care when driving as many roads are still impassable following Storm Éowyn, with fallen trees, power lines and debris.

In the Republic of Ireland, there are approximately 340,000 customers still without power as of 07:00 local time on Sunday, down from a peak of 768,000 as a result of Storm Éowyn.

One man, Kacper Dudek, 20, died after a tree fell on his car in Raphoe, County Donegal, during the storm.

Thousands of customers in Scotland are also still without power.

In County Down, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team said two teenagers were rescued “in challenging conditions” from Slieve Donard on Saturday evening. They were treated for exposure.

Train lines are beginning to reopen following “extensive damage” across the network.

Translink said the Belfast routes to Portadown and Bangor have reopened, but Seahill Station is closed because of an obstruction in accessing the platforms.

The Larne line is now open, but clearance work is continuing on the Londonderry line.

Due to planned rail works, the cross border route to Dublin terminates at Drogheda with a bus replacement taking passengers the rest of the journey.

Speed restrictions are in place for some trains, so Translink has advised passengers to allow extra time for their journeys.

Metro, Glider and Ulsterbus services returned on Friday with some diversions in place due to ongoing road closures and clearance work in the wake of the storm.

To report faults or emergencies you should contact:

Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901

Openreach: 08000 23 20 23

Gas networks: 0800 002001

Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100