Melodi
Disaster Cat
Looks like the Isles and Europe are getting two more storms back to back - one today and one Friday and since the prediction is that "Darwin" (outside my window right now) may be "the worst yet" according to one source, I thought a new thread was a good idea. Otherwise these stories just all run together - they are telling people who can to stay inside to avoid being "Darwin Awards" this morning and since unlike 10,000 other people in Ireland I still have power (for now) I thought I would start this - feel free to post Irish, UK and European storm related stories here.
Batten down the hatches again as winds to hit 160kph
Fifth storm in four weeks
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Snow in Sligo today Photo: Val Robus
12 February 2014
IRELAND is bracing itself for the fifth major Atlantic storm to strike in just over four weeks with Storm Darwin threatening wind gusts of up to 160kph.
Related Articles
Wind and snow alerts are in place for counties across the country with the Irish Coastguard urging people to avoid exposed coastal parts of the west and south-west with fears wind gusts could reach violent levels.
A 'status red' wind alert is in place for Cork and Kerry this morning, and high seas are forecast in both counties.
'Status Red' will see average wind speeds of up to 80km/h, and gusts of up to 160km/h. Status Red will also see high seas, and is Met Eireann's most severe warning.
Over 10,000 homes are already without electricity as a result of the effects of the latest Atlantic storm, and the figures are expected to rise as the day continues.
“Severe storms in the south west have damaged power lines to many homes across the country,” according to an ESB spokersperson.
“There are about 10,000 homes currently without power, and we expect that figure to rise as gusts of up to 140kph are forecast for the afternoon.”
The latest rainfall chart from Met Eireann
Some of the worst affected areas are in regions across Co Kerry and Co Cork, but some locations in Co Clare are also suffering without electricity.
A number of ESB crews are attending scenes nationwide, attempting to mend the damage, but Storm Darwin is having a negative impact on these efforts.
“We have restored power to almost 5,000 homes already today but one of the key issues crews are facing is, naturally, the ongoing adverse weather conditions,” the ESB spokesperson told independent.ie
“The gale-force winds are hampering restoration efforts – and the safety of the crews are paramount.”
A 'status orange' wind alert is now in place for Clare, Limerick, Wexford, Galway and Waterford.
The peak of the stormy weather will sweep across the country until 2pm this afternoon.
Iarnrod Eireann have also issued a statement, reporting that services operating between Mallow-Cork, Mallow-Tralee & Cork-Cobh/Middleton are operating at reduced speeds due to "high winds". "Delays to up to 30 minutes can be expected," the rail company tweeted.
Met Eireann believes today’s turbulent conditions could be the worst of the succession of storms the country has experienced in recent weeks.
Communications Officer with Kerry County Council Padraig Corkery said many trees had fallen over night.
‘‘We’re as ready as we can be, since Christmas we’ve had a succession of storms.
‘‘The fears will be that there will be some flooding from rivers as a result of the rainfall,’’ he told Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.
To prepare for the storm, the council has cleared many of the county’s drains that have been blocked during recent stormy conditions and provided sandbags to residents and businesses.
An inch of rain is likely to fall over the next 24 hours in the southwest.
Motorists have been advised to postpone unnecessary journeys and pedestrians should stay away from open coastline.
The strong winds are expected to abate by this afternoon, making way for tonight’s freezing conditions.
‘‘A southerly wind will be increasing for the next three or four hours and will be at its peak in the late morning into the early afternoon,’’ Met Eireann forecaster Gerald Fleming told the programme.
He warned the storm could be ‘‘quite dangerous’’ from 10am to 2pm in Co. Cork and Co. Kerry.
‘‘Do make sure that there’s nothing out of doors that’s loose or could cause a hazard and I think stay indoors when you can,’’ he added.
Gardai have advised commuters to avoiding the icy area around Baltinglass & Blessington this morning is at all possible.
"Particular care is needed on the N81/ Blessington Rd at Russborough and there are treacherous road conditions around Sally Gap & Wicklow Gap and on the Kilmacanogue /Roundwood Rd (R755)," said a garda spokesperson.
A 'status orange' ice and snow warning is in place for Donegal.
"Following heavy snowfall & a hard frost last night, road conditions are very hazardous in Donegal this morning," according to an AA spokesperson. "Roads in the area are extremely icy and care is advised on the Back of Errigal Rd between Glenveagh Nat Park & Dunlewey."
A 'status yellow' ice and snow warning is in place for Longford, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Kerry.
Gardai and AA Roadwatch have appealed to motorists to drive with caution and, if possible, to avoid routes on higher ground.
Very wet and windy weather is expected to push up from the south, preceded by some sleet and snow over parts of Ulster.
Met Eireann said extremely windy or stormy weather can be expected today, with some severe winds developing and damaging gusts, “especially over Munster, south Connacht and parts of south Leinster”.
It added there would be very heavy rain early on, with some spot flooding, but turning more showery later. Top temperatures would be 5 to 8 C.
Another storm is predicted to hit the country on Friday.
The scale of the storm damage since December 26 is so severe that one council alone, Clare County Council, said its repair bill could exceed €35m.
Seventy coastal sites from Galway to Waterford are reporting major storm damage with related flooding closing the Limerick-Ennis rail line and the R487 Kilbaha Road on Loop Head.
Motorists faced yet another day of travel misery across Cork and Kerry, with sleet and snow making driving conditions treacherous.
Heavy rainfall – and the prediction of further heavy rain to come – has also left councils monitoring rivers on an hourly basis in Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Westmeath and Wexford.
Snow and ice also caused traffic chaos across the north-west, with a series of minor accidents adding to tailbacks.
IMPASSABLE
Donegal was worst hit with 4cm of snow on higher ground but just a sprinkling was enough to cause hour-long tailbacks for commuters in Letterkenny.
The worst of the snowfall arrived in Sligo and south Donegal around lunchtime, spreading quickly westwards and northwards, and rural roads in Leitrim were impassable.
Council gritting lorries worked throughout the day, with the worst affected areas in Inishowen. Last night, council crews were gritting main roads after a black ice warning was issued. The West also felt the cold snap with temperatures dropping to between three and six degrees.
Road conditions around Castlebar and Claremorris were described by AA Roadwatch as quite bad throughout the day.
Motorists were also urged to take extreme caution on the M18 Galway/Limerick road between the Gort and Crusheen exit due to slippery driving conditions.
Ralph Riegel, Greg Harkin and Caroline Crawford
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...es-again-as-winds-to-hit-160kph-30000802.html
Batten down the hatches again as winds to hit 160kph
Fifth storm in four weeks
24 Comments
Font Size
255
Share
01 of 29
Previous
Next
/>
Snow in Sligo today Photo: Val Robus
12 February 2014
IRELAND is bracing itself for the fifth major Atlantic storm to strike in just over four weeks with Storm Darwin threatening wind gusts of up to 160kph.
Related Articles
Wind and snow alerts are in place for counties across the country with the Irish Coastguard urging people to avoid exposed coastal parts of the west and south-west with fears wind gusts could reach violent levels.
A 'status red' wind alert is in place for Cork and Kerry this morning, and high seas are forecast in both counties.
'Status Red' will see average wind speeds of up to 80km/h, and gusts of up to 160km/h. Status Red will also see high seas, and is Met Eireann's most severe warning.
Over 10,000 homes are already without electricity as a result of the effects of the latest Atlantic storm, and the figures are expected to rise as the day continues.
“Severe storms in the south west have damaged power lines to many homes across the country,” according to an ESB spokersperson.
“There are about 10,000 homes currently without power, and we expect that figure to rise as gusts of up to 140kph are forecast for the afternoon.”
The latest rainfall chart from Met Eireann
Some of the worst affected areas are in regions across Co Kerry and Co Cork, but some locations in Co Clare are also suffering without electricity.
A number of ESB crews are attending scenes nationwide, attempting to mend the damage, but Storm Darwin is having a negative impact on these efforts.
“We have restored power to almost 5,000 homes already today but one of the key issues crews are facing is, naturally, the ongoing adverse weather conditions,” the ESB spokesperson told independent.ie
“The gale-force winds are hampering restoration efforts – and the safety of the crews are paramount.”
A 'status orange' wind alert is now in place for Clare, Limerick, Wexford, Galway and Waterford.
The peak of the stormy weather will sweep across the country until 2pm this afternoon.
Iarnrod Eireann have also issued a statement, reporting that services operating between Mallow-Cork, Mallow-Tralee & Cork-Cobh/Middleton are operating at reduced speeds due to "high winds". "Delays to up to 30 minutes can be expected," the rail company tweeted.
Met Eireann believes today’s turbulent conditions could be the worst of the succession of storms the country has experienced in recent weeks.
Communications Officer with Kerry County Council Padraig Corkery said many trees had fallen over night.
‘‘We’re as ready as we can be, since Christmas we’ve had a succession of storms.
‘‘The fears will be that there will be some flooding from rivers as a result of the rainfall,’’ he told Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.
To prepare for the storm, the council has cleared many of the county’s drains that have been blocked during recent stormy conditions and provided sandbags to residents and businesses.
An inch of rain is likely to fall over the next 24 hours in the southwest.
Motorists have been advised to postpone unnecessary journeys and pedestrians should stay away from open coastline.
The strong winds are expected to abate by this afternoon, making way for tonight’s freezing conditions.
‘‘A southerly wind will be increasing for the next three or four hours and will be at its peak in the late morning into the early afternoon,’’ Met Eireann forecaster Gerald Fleming told the programme.
He warned the storm could be ‘‘quite dangerous’’ from 10am to 2pm in Co. Cork and Co. Kerry.
‘‘Do make sure that there’s nothing out of doors that’s loose or could cause a hazard and I think stay indoors when you can,’’ he added.
Gardai have advised commuters to avoiding the icy area around Baltinglass & Blessington this morning is at all possible.
"Particular care is needed on the N81/ Blessington Rd at Russborough and there are treacherous road conditions around Sally Gap & Wicklow Gap and on the Kilmacanogue /Roundwood Rd (R755)," said a garda spokesperson.
A 'status orange' ice and snow warning is in place for Donegal.
"Following heavy snowfall & a hard frost last night, road conditions are very hazardous in Donegal this morning," according to an AA spokesperson. "Roads in the area are extremely icy and care is advised on the Back of Errigal Rd between Glenveagh Nat Park & Dunlewey."
A 'status yellow' ice and snow warning is in place for Longford, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Kerry.
Gardai and AA Roadwatch have appealed to motorists to drive with caution and, if possible, to avoid routes on higher ground.
Very wet and windy weather is expected to push up from the south, preceded by some sleet and snow over parts of Ulster.
Met Eireann said extremely windy or stormy weather can be expected today, with some severe winds developing and damaging gusts, “especially over Munster, south Connacht and parts of south Leinster”.
It added there would be very heavy rain early on, with some spot flooding, but turning more showery later. Top temperatures would be 5 to 8 C.
Another storm is predicted to hit the country on Friday.
The scale of the storm damage since December 26 is so severe that one council alone, Clare County Council, said its repair bill could exceed €35m.
Seventy coastal sites from Galway to Waterford are reporting major storm damage with related flooding closing the Limerick-Ennis rail line and the R487 Kilbaha Road on Loop Head.
Motorists faced yet another day of travel misery across Cork and Kerry, with sleet and snow making driving conditions treacherous.
Heavy rainfall – and the prediction of further heavy rain to come – has also left councils monitoring rivers on an hourly basis in Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Westmeath and Wexford.
Snow and ice also caused traffic chaos across the north-west, with a series of minor accidents adding to tailbacks.
IMPASSABLE
Donegal was worst hit with 4cm of snow on higher ground but just a sprinkling was enough to cause hour-long tailbacks for commuters in Letterkenny.
The worst of the snowfall arrived in Sligo and south Donegal around lunchtime, spreading quickly westwards and northwards, and rural roads in Leitrim were impassable.
Council gritting lorries worked throughout the day, with the worst affected areas in Inishowen. Last night, council crews were gritting main roads after a black ice warning was issued. The West also felt the cold snap with temperatures dropping to between three and six degrees.
Road conditions around Castlebar and Claremorris were described by AA Roadwatch as quite bad throughout the day.
Motorists were also urged to take extreme caution on the M18 Galway/Limerick road between the Gort and Crusheen exit due to slippery driving conditions.
Ralph Riegel, Greg Harkin and Caroline Crawford
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...es-again-as-winds-to-hit-160kph-30000802.html
drive safe everyone
