Skip to content

Widespread disruption as Storm Darragh hits

More than 45,000 households are without power due to Storm Darragh, which has also brought down trees and caused localised flooding.

At one point this morning there were no trains running in Northern Ireland but many lines have now resumed albeit with delays.

Bus service, flights and ferries have also been affected.

An amber warning for wind - the second highest level of weather warning - was issued from 01:00 GMT until 15:00 on Saturday.

A yellow wind warning is in place until 06:00 on Sunday.

A number of festive events have been cancelled and councils have closed some facilities on Saturday.

PACEMAKER Stalls outside of Belfast City Hall at the Christmas markets. There are Christmas lights up and the weather is damp and grey. PACEMAKER
Belfast Christmas market is closed on Saturday due to the weather warning

Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season, following Ashley, Bert, and Conall.

A red wind warning - the highest level - was in place in some counties in the Republic of Ireland overnight but has now ended.

Nearly 325,000 households are without power there.

About three million people in parts of Wales and south-west England were sent an emergency alert from the government.

Stephen Henderson Large wave hitting against a wall in PortrushStephen Henderson
There were large gusts in coastal areas during Storm Darragh

The Met Office had forecast gusts around the coast of Northern Ireland to reach speeds of about 80mph (130km/h) from early on Saturday morning.

The strongest gusts up until 12:00 GMT include:

  • 78mph (126km/h) at Orlock Head, County Down
  • 71mph (114km/h) at Killowen, County Down
  • 68mph (109km/h) at Magilligan, County Londonderry

In the Republic of Ireland, gusts of 87mph (140kmh) were recorded in County Galway as the storm moved in from the Atlantic.

Useful contacts and websites

Pacemaker Large blue bus with smashed windscreen, crashed into a wall, men in Hi Viz working on road, smashed wall and large tree lying on groundPacemaker
An airport express bus crashed outside Templepatrick

All the latest road closures and fallen trees can be found on the Traffic Watch NI website.

For the latest on weather warnings you can check the Met Office website or keep up to date with BBC weather.

To report faults or emergencies you should contact:

Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901

Openreach: 08000 23 20 23 or visit openreach.co.uk

Gas networks: 0800 002001

NI Water: 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com

Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100

NIE Networks: 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk

Has Storm Darragh affected travel?

Departure board at Belfast International Airport showing cancelled flights
A number of flights have been cancelled

A number of flights from Belfast International Airport, and Belfast City Airport, have been affected.

Dublin Airport said it expected to be fully operational on Saturday but some airlines had already cancelled flights.

Passengers should contact their airline for updates.

Stena Line has warned that some sailings between Belfast/Dublin and Great Britain and between the Republic and France are now cancelled.

Multiple sailings from Belfast to Cairnryan on Saturday have also been cancelled.

P&O Ferries has said its sailings from both Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled on Saturday.

Pacemaker Police car and tractor on road with large fallen tree blocking path, man in hi viz visible in distance working on treePacemaker
Roads across Northern Ireland have been affected by fallen trees and debris

What is cancelled due to Storm Darragh?

Weather map for Saturday showing gusts of winds hitting Ireland and UK.
Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season

Antrim and Newtownabbey

  • The enchanted winter garden in Antrim Castle gardens was closed on Friday and Saturday
  • Barriers were closed at Jordanstown Loughshore and Hazelbank on Saturday
  • Council parks and playparks were closed from 15:00 GMT on Friday and all day Saturday.

Ards and North Down

  • Christmas weekend at Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport cancelled

Belfast

  • Christmas market at Belfast City Hall closed on Saturday with plans to reopen on Sunday if the weather permits
  • Parks and playgrounds also closed on Saturday
  • Council asking the public not to visit Bog Meadows, Cavehill Country Park and its other open spaces.

Causeway Coast and Glens

  • The borough council has closed a number of outdoor recreation sites,
  • Public warned not to walk along cliff paths, harbour piers, or woodland parks
  • The National Trust said facilities at Portstewart Strand will be closed

Derry and Strabane

  • Facilities will be closed across council area, including parks, recycling centres and outdoor sports and leisure facilities
  • Council warned that weather could have an impact on street cleaning and waste services
  • No scheduled sports activities at outdoor facilities to go ahead on Saturday
  • Cemeteries will open for burials only on Saturday

Fermanagh and Omagh

  • Enniskillen Farmers Market at Enniskillen Castle postponed to Saturday 21 December 2024
  • Live and Local in Enniskillen and Omagh cancelled
  • Elf Escape at the Marble Arch Caves cancelled

Lisburn and Castlereagh

  • A number of events in its Christmas programme delayed due to the weather including the Dundonald Christmas Market
  • Public parks and open spaces, including cemeteries, have been closed since Friday and will remain closed on Saturday

Mid Ulster

  • All public parks, forest sites, and play parks across the Mid Ulster council area closed for the duration of the weather warnings warnings
  • Council advising the public to avoid using open spaces and areas where there are trees
  • The National Trust cancelled its Twilight Market on Friday and day one of their Christmas Fair on Saturday, which were due to take place in the Argory in Dungannon

Mid and East Antrim

  • Sentry Hill, Memorial Park, and Bracknamuckley Wood in Ballymena will be closed from Friday until Sunday morning

Newry Mourne and Down

  • Christmas craft activities due to take place in Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday rescheduled
  • Four forest country parks, as well as Warrenpoint Park closed to cars and pedestrians from Friday afternoon until Sunday
  • Silent Valley closed by Northern Ireland Water