Storm Dudley: Power cuts and fallen trees in Northern Ireland
Helen HamillTravel disruption and power cuts have been reported as Storm Dudley brought heavy rain and strong winds across Northern Ireland.
Hundreds of households, particularly in counties Londonderry and Armagh, lost power but most were restored quickly.
It was the first of two storms to hit the UK and Ireland this week, with Storm Eunice expected on Friday.
Warnings have been issued by the Met Office, with northern England and Scotland the worst affected in the UK.
On Thursday morning, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) reported no major faults across the power supply network.
Niall Carson/PA Wire
Mary McDevitt
Stephen CoulterA yellow warning was in force in Northern Ireland from 13:00 GMT until 06:00 on Thursday.
An amber warning, the second highest level of warning, was also issued for northern parts of counties Antrim and Londonderry from 14:00 until 23:59 on Wednesday.
The Met Office warned of the potential for wind gusts inland of about 100km/h (60mph), with stronger gales along some exposed coasts and hills.
It said injuries and danger to life were likely from large waves and beach material being thrown on to roads and sea fronts.
The disruption caused by Storm Dudley included:
- At one point, more than 800 homes were without power across Counties Londonderry and Armagh
- More than 100 people were still without power in the Armagh City area at midnight
- Traffic on the Foyle Bridge restricted to 30mph due to strong winds
A number of roads were blocked or partially blocked by fallen trees including:
- Culvacullion Road in County Tyrone
- Feddans Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
- Everglades housing estate, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
- Mobouy Road, County Londonderry
- Larch Road near Limavady, County Londonderry
- Kilcorig Road, Lisburn, County Down
- Moss Road, Millisle, County Down
- Dromore Road, Lurgan, County Armagh
- Ballinderry Road, County Antrim (close to Horse Park Road)
- Bay Road, Crumlin, County Antrim
Trains and ferry services have been cancelled in Scotland as the country prepares for winds of up to 80mph.
In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann issued a yellow warning across the country for westerly winds associated with Storm Dudley.
The Irish meteorological service warned of winds reaching mean speeds of 30-40mph with damaging gusts of 50-65mph, which will be stronger on exposed coasts and on high ground.
The warning is in place from 12:00 on Wednesday until 12:00 on Thursday.
Storm Dudley will ease on Thursday to leave a brief calmer spell before Storm Eunice arrives on Friday.
For Storm Eunice, yellow warnings are in place for winds and snow affecting Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England.
The warning comes into force from 03:00 on Friday and runs to 18:00 on Friday.
An amber warning has also been issued for wind covering all of Wales, and central and southern England.
The warning comes into force from 03:00 on Friday running through to 21:00 on Friday.
Gusts as high as 80mph are forecast inland and gusts as high as 100mph around the coasts of west Wales and south-west England.