Thousands without power as Storm Floris weather warnings take effect
Storm Floris made landfall overnight, bringing damaging gusts and localised flooding to some parts.
Advertisement
ESB crews are working to restore electricity faults, with Galway, Clare, Mayo and Donegal among the worst-affected counties.
Weather warnings are in place for eight counties as Storm Floris hits the country overnight.
Met Éireann has warned of dangerous travelling conditions, power outages, and structural damage.
A status yellow wind warning is in place for Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, and Monaghan since 4am until 4pm.
There is also a yellow wind warning for Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, which will last until 1pm.
Met Éireann has warned this could lead to fallen trees, debris and loose objects, dangerous travelling conditions and power outages.
A yellow rain warning is also in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo until 10am on Monday.
Met Éireann warned this could cause localised flooding and lightning damage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Black storm warning paralyses Hong Kong as torrential rain triggers floods and landslides
Hong Kong came to a standstill on Tuesday as torrential rain pounded the city for the second time in less than six hours, triggering a rare black rainstorm warning, paralysing public services and flooding key urban districts. The Hong Kong Observatory issued its highest-level alert at 5.50am local time, warning that more than 70mm rain was falling per hour across the territory. A similar black rain warning had been issued at 11.45pm Monday night. The weather forecaster said that the downpour was driven by an active southwest monsoon and upper-air disturbances near the Pearl River Estuary. By morning, Queen Mary Hospital, the city's largest, was battling severe flooding, with ankle-deep water accumulating around the main building, China Daily reported. Emergency services had to reroute patients to the Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai while the Drainage Services Department deployed pumps to manage the inundation. Flash floods ripped through several districts including Central, Pok Fu Lam, Tseung Kwan O, and Tai Po, turning staircases into cascading streams and major roads into rivers of mud. In Quarry Bay, torrents swept down hillsides, inundating King's Road and nearby residential areas, the South China Morning Post reported. 'Persistent rainstorm will cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. Members of the public are advised to take shelter in a safe place,' the observatory warned. It also issued a landslip warning, urging people to avoid steep slopes and hilly areas. Between midnight and 8am, most Hong Kong districts recorded over 40mm of rainfall, while parts of Sai Kung and Tai Po witnessed nearly 300mm. The flooding prompted widespread closures. Schools, courts and most public services, including immigration offices, were suspended. The Education Bureau cancelled all morning, afternoon and full-day classes. The Department of Home Affairs opened nine temporary shelters while district councillors and emergency teams were on standby. The Drainage Services Department reported 18 confirmed flood cases by 8am, including in Sha Tin, Lee Yue Mun, and Tolo Harbour Highway, and deployed over 180 emergency teams to inspect and respond at 240 known flood-prone locations. A car park in flood-prone King Yin Lane, Tseung Kwan O, was submerged overnight, with water rising halfway up about 20 parked vehicles. "Many residents tried to drive away their cars but some in vain because the engines of the cars did not work," said Christine Fong Kwok Shan, district councillor for Sai Kung. Minibuses, ferries and buses witnessed major disruption. In Tsuen Wan, police were filmed helping push a green minibus out of rising floodwater. KMB suspended several routes across the New Territories, while the Peak tram and Mid-Levels escalators ceased operation due to safety concerns. The MTR network was also affected. Several station exits at Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po Market, and Choi Hung were temporarily closed due to flooding. A vessel sank in Yung Shue Wan on the Lamma Island and another capsized in Sai Kung's Sam Mun Zai area. The storm on Tuesday followed a weekend of deadly flash floods in southern China, where five people died in Guangdong province. Over 1,300 rescuers were dispatched in the aftermath. Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macau - which issued a red rain warning - form the backbone of Chinese president Xi Jinping 's flagship Greater Bay Area initiative, aimed at fusing Hong Kong's financial firepower with Guangdong's manufacturing and technological strength. Airports across the region faced heavy disruption, with cancellation rates around 20 per cent according to Flightmaster data. Speed limits on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge were reduced due to poor visibility, though the Hong Kong international airport remained operational with some flight delays. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange also continued trading, having changed its policy last year to keep open during weather disruptions. Leung Wing Mo, former assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory, said work arrangements during severe weather were at the discretion of individual companies. The Labour Department reminded employers to ensure the safety of their employees, and consider remote work or early release during extreme conditions. Hong Kong usually receives about 2,200mm of rainfall annually, with over half concentrated between June and August. This latest event has underscored the escalating risks posed by extreme weather, which meteorologists globally are increasingly linking to climate change. As of Tuesday afternoon, the black rainstorm warning remains in effect.
Western Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Work to restore power to thousands as Storm Floris moves on from Scotland
Work is also under way to clear trees from several railway lines which were blocked by the storm. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it had restored power to 50,000 properties since the onset of the high winds. The company said: 'Now the winds have died down and moved into the North Sea, it's become safer for our field teams to get to faults on the network, although strong gusts are still forecast for today and we'll be monitoring the forecast closely. 'Our teams worked for as long as the light permitted last night and were deployed again early this morning, with the support of helicopters to assess the network from above. 'This has been a particularly damaging storm and we'll be working hard to reconnect customers as safely and quickly as we can – but it will take time.' The company, which is the network operator for northern Scotland, said it had organised meal provision in some of the affected communities. On Tuesday morning, Network Rail said it had reopened 30 out of 34 routes in Scotland. It said: 'We've dealt with hundreds of fallen trees overnight, with our response and maintenance working in teams to cover as much ground as possible. 'Our control-room team continue to co-ordinate the response on the lines which remain closed.' ScotRail said some routes in the north are still facing disruption. There was travel disruption around the country from Storm Floris (Gareth Fuller/PA) On Monday night, the Scottish Government's resilience room held an emergency meeting to help decide an appropriate response to the storm, which has also led to delays in exam results being delivered to pupils in some island communities. Ministers including Angela Constance were joined by representatives from the Met Office, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, Sepa and transport and utilities companies. Trunk road companies are continuing to remove fallen trees and debris from roads. The storm left debris hanging from a gantry over the Kingston Bridge in central Glasgow on Monday. The Government said there have been 119 incidents on the rail network caused by Storm Floris, including 75 tree-related ones. With winds of up to 90mph in some parts of the country, a significant clear-up job will be required to inspect lines and carry out repair work before it is safe to restore a full service. More wet and windy weather is forecast for late on Wednesday and Thursday, but no Met Office weather warnings are in place for Tuesday. 🚆Many of our routes are now reopen. Some routes in the North are still being worked on. Please check our app and website for the latest service information. — ScotRail (@ScotRail) August 5, 2025 ScotRail is urging customers to check their journey via the app, website or JourneyCheck before they travel. On X, Network Rail said it has 'worked closely with all train operators' to co-ordinate the railway's response to the storm. The railway operator said: 'We've been working around the clock to keep services moving today. 'Our teams will continue inspecting routes for #StormFloris damage overnight, but this will continue into Tuesday morning.' Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: 'While the system later this week won't carry as many impacts as Storm Floris, a further period of unseasonable wet and windy weather is on the way late on Wednesday and into Thursday for those in north-western parts of the UK. 'An area of low pressure from the west will bring some strong winds, especially for those in western parts of Scotland. 'Gusts over 50mph are possible for a time. Some heavy rain will also accompany the strong winds, with up to 30mm possible.'
BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Isle of Man ferry services back on schedule after disruption
Ferry sailings from the Isle of Man are back on schedule after a day of disruption caused by gales in the Irish Sea as a result of Storm Tuesday, the morning sailing to Dublin by the fast craft Manannan departed shortly before 07:00 BST, while flagship ferry Manxmen left for Heysham at 08: follows the cancellation of morning sailings to and from Liverpool on Monday - with the storm bringing gusts of up to 90mph - as well as the cancellation of the evening return journey to to the overnight return service to Douglas from Heysham means there will be no newspapers available on the island on Tuesday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
