Storm Barra: Keep Up To Date With How It's Affecting Your Area

A weather warning has been in place since 6am.

Severe and damaging winds will continue for the rest of the day, as Storm Barra tracks across Ireland.

Clare, Cork and Kerry are under a red wind weather warning.

Many western coastal counties will be under an orange wind warning until tomorrow morning.

Gusts are expected to reach or exceed 130 kilometres an hour as the storm continues to have an impact.

Heavy and blustery showers are also expected.

Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire and Emergency Management, has urged people to stay safe and check weather advice:

Efforts are continuing to restore power to 49-thousand homes and businesses across the country, as a result of Storm Barra.

Jim Hernan from ESB Networks is urging people not to go near fallen wires: 

Statement from Offaly County Council: (5.30pm)

County Offaly remains under a Met Eireann Status yellow wind and rain warning in relation to Storm Barra which is forecast to continue until 18.00 tomorrow Wednesday 8th December.

Please note the warning includes the following: widespread mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/h and gusts of 90 to 110 km/h with localised stronger winds likely. Heavy rain will also bring risks of surface flooding.

Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Our contact number for reporting issues such as fallen trees, flooding and road damage is 0579346800 or out of hours 1800 15 15 15. 
For any water disruption please contact Irish Water on 1850 278 278.  For disruption to power please contact the ESB on 1850 372 999
 
Offaly County Council is asking motorists to exercise caution as driving conditions may be hazardous again this evening  due to flooding or fallen trees/branches.

Motorists are advised to avoid driving through flowing or standing water and to exercise caution during heavy rain. Please be conscious of cyclists and pedestrians.

Offaly County Council crews have responded to a small number of minor tree falls throughout the day, but there have been no significant issues thus far

Our Severe Weather Team is continuing to monitor the situation and will deal with any issues which may arise.

Please see WinterReady.ie for tips on ensuring you, your home or business are prepared for adverse weather.

Power Update: (15:22)

The outage in Clonminch is now being reported by 484 homes, as the midlands continues to feel the effects of Storm Barra.

🚨#StormBarra continues to bring disruptive weather to Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday, with impacts from severe, damaging winds 🌬️ as well as heavy rain 🌧️ 🚨

Our Severe Weather Team is continuing to monitor the situation in #Offaly and deal with any issues which may arise pic.twitter.com/vGjwH7bt6F

— Offaly County Council (@offalycoco) December 7, 2021

Advice from ESB:

If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous.

Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.

Customers should have their MPRN available to access recorded information specific to their location.

ESB Networks is also reminding customers of the precautionary measures to take in the event of a power cut:  

• Stay Safe, Stay Clear: Never approach broken lines or damaged poles, and keep children and animals away – report damage to ESB Networks at 1800 372 999 and listen to recorded messages carefully  

• Turn off electric cookers, ovens, irons, etc. if electricity supply is lost.

• Leave a light switched on so you know when power has been restored.

• Take extra care if using candles, oil lamps or other naked flames.

• Test smoke alarms with fresh batteries.

• Ensure adequate ventilation if using gas heaters. 

Roads:

A tree is down on the Low Road in Ballykeeran between Athlone and Glasson.

Power:

Another electricity outage has been reported in Laois this morning.

1,335 ESB customers in the Mountrath area are without power.

ESB crews are working to restore the fault - with an estimated restoration time of 4.15 this evening.

Electricity in Delvin has been restored, according to the ESB.

The outage in Ballinderry is now affecting 223 homes.

Faults are also being reported in Clonminch by 58 ESB customers.

194 homes in Delvin are without power as a result of Storm Barra.

The fault was reported just after 9.10 this morning and is expected to be restored by 2.15 this afternoon.

Outages are also being reported across 78 homes in Ballinderry.

The ESB expects to have the fault restored by 2.15 this afternoon.

Power:

Electricity has now been restored to 1,265 ESB customers in Laois.

The outage in Mountrath is now affecting 70 customers.

There is an estimated power restoration time of 9 o'clock tonight.

Roads:

We've received reports of a tree down on the Rahugh road in Westmeath, about a mile and a half from The Hazel pub.

Work is currently underway to remove a tree that has fallen on the R445 between Borris in Ossory and Roscrea.

There are also reports of a tree down on the Mountmellick to Portarligton road. 

Gardaí are urging motorists to be extremely vigilant on all roads this morning, with reports of fallen debris on a number of routes.

🚨#StormBarra will bring disruptive weather to Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday, with impacts from severe, damaging winds 🌬️ as well as heavy rain 🌧️ 🚨#Wind and #rain warnings are in place across Ireland ⚠️

Read more in our #StormBarra news story ℹ️📰 https://t.co/jZZxcE5Nup pic.twitter.com/46Ae3iyOTb

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 6, 2021

Power:

1,000 homes are without power in Portlaoise as the effects of Storm Barra are felt in the midlands. 

The fault was reported just after 6.30 this morning and is currently expected to be restored around 10.15. 

A yellow weather warning is in effect across Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, with motorists in the region advised to watch out for fallen trees and other debris.   

Emergency services are on high alert across the region with people advised to secure outdoor ornaments and Christmas decorations as well. 

Director of Services in Westmeath County Council, Barry Kehoe is advising the public to monitor updates as warnings may escalate: 

College:

The Athlone campus of TUS remains open to this morning but students and staff from affected counties are being asked not to travel. 

Three of the six satellite campuses in Limerick and Clare will close until tomorrow. 

Statement from TUS:

The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) will close three of its six campuses this evening from 10pm and they will remain closed tomorrow Tuesday, December 7, 2021 on the advice of the Department of Further and Higher Education.

The LSAD, Clare Street Campus, Limerick; Moylish Campus, Limerick; and the Ennis Campus, Co. Clare, will close this evening and remain closed until Wednesday, December 8 as a result of the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann.

Athlone, Clonmel and Thurles campuses will remain open but staff and students are asked NOT to travel from a red or amber area to attend these campuses. This includes those who have assessments and exams. Contingencies will be put in place for those who cannot travel.

Staff and students are advised to check their email and follow the TUS social media channels for any updates or changes to this information.

Roads:

We've received a report that a tree is down on the Mullingar to Ballnacargy Road at Ardonagh.

There is also a report that a tree is down on the entrance to Sragh Industrial Estate in Tullamore.