Live: Storm Ellen aftermath updates
ESB Networks expects that 50,000 homes and businesses will remain without electricity tonight across the country. Crews will continue working tonight and will mobilise again at first light to restore the remainder through the course of tomorrow, Friday.
The latest information on power outages and estimated restoration times is being continually updated on the PowerCheck App or powercheck.ie, as more information on the scale of the damage in impacted areas is assessed.
An ESB spokesperson said: "We are advising all those impacted by outages that they should prepare to be without electricity overnight and into tomorrow with some customers potentially without power beyond that. It is very important that any customers who use electrically powered medical devices should contact their healthcare professional to make alternative arrangements if necessary."
Cork County Council has warned that some coastal flooding may occur over the next few hours while Cork should brace itself for severe and damaging gusts.
Bantry Fire Brigade has asked people to slow down and drive with care as crews deal with tidal flooding in the town. Drivers should expect delays in the area.
Fermoy Town Park will also remain closed until futher notice.
As Cork city centre braces itself for possible flooding around high tide at 7.30pm tonight, a number of road closures and traffic restrictions will take place. Diversions will be put in place to ensure traffic can still circulate. These were introduced since early afternoon in order to reduce any negative impact of traffic movements through standing water.
Motorists are advised not to park in any of the areas listed below at the update at 1pm and from 6pm this evening until after the flood waters have abated, which is expected to be between 8.30pm and 9pm.
Cork City Council’s Customer Service Unit (CSU) has extended its opening hours this evening until 9pm to allow the public contact them with any issue that may arise due to this flooding event. The CSU can be contacted on 021-4924000.
David Joyce, Director of Operational Services in Cork City Council said: “Cork City Council is well prepared to support the citizens and businesses of Cork during this unusual August tidal event. Our flood response plan has been activated and in conjunction with the other principal response agencies, including the fire services, An Garda Siochana and the Civil Defence, we stand ready to respond to whatever issues that may arise this evening.”
ESB Networks crews will work into the late evening to restore power to the remaining 70,000 affected customers but some homes will remain without electricity tonight, predominantly in Cork and Tipperary.
Since early morning and despite challenging conditions, ESB Networks have restored power to more than 124,000 homes, farms and businesses across the country.
Crews from less impacted areas of the country have travelled to assist colleagues in repairing damage in the most impacted areas with more than 1,900 individual faults reported since early morning.
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for Cork valid from 5pm today, Thursday, until 5am tomorrow. There will be very strong south to southeast winds later today, veering southwesterly overnight with the potential for further impacts and a continued risk of coastal flooding.
A status yellow rainfall warning remains in place for Ireland until 5am tomorrow too with heavy squally downpours and thunderstorms which will bring a risk of spot flooding at times today and tonight.
Combined with high winds, a potential risk remains for coastal flooding this evening at high tide.
Following recent weather events, trees have been weakened and remain susceptible to further damage. Landowners are asked to examine trees within their property for damage.
Property owners are advised to take precautions in low lying areas or areas susceptible to flooding; structural damage is possible.
Road users are asked to exercise extreme caution as there is a lot of debris, loose branches and fallen trees and areas of spot flooding on many roads. Motorists are advised to drive with caution during heavy rain, not to drive through flood waters and be conscious of cyclists and pedestrians. Cork County Council asks all road users to be aware of the danger posed by high winds.
Cork County Council staff and crews have been working to clear roads and respond to reports. Fallen trees and debris have been cleared from the following sites in the Carrigaline Municipal District by our road crews: the R612 at Drakes Pool, at Aghamarta and at the GAA grounds; on the L2230 Waterfall to Bishopstown, on the L2463 Glen Road to Ballygarvan and the L2480 Fairy Hill Monkstown.
Crews are in attendance at Minane and Ballinrea Road where a fallen tree is blocking the road and responding to reports of trees down on L6503 Granig and at Curraghbinny L2496. The N28 east of Shanbally has now been cleared.
Irish Water and Cork County Council are working to restore water supply to customers in a number of areas in Cork, which have been disrupted following Storm Ellen.
Areas affected by supply disruption as a result of power outages and other issues include Freemount, Bartlemy, Moananig, Kildorrery, Glanworth, Monee, Carrigcleena, Monaparson, Macroney, Kilmurry and surrounding areas.
Crews are working to restore supplies in these areas as quickly and as safely as possible. In some areas access to treatment plants is being hampered due to fallen trees or flooding.
Further updates on restoration times will be provided throughout the day and up-to-date information will be available on the Irish Water website, water.ie and on Twitter @IWCare. The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1850-278278.
Cork city centre is bracing itself for flooding this evening as Cork City Council says there is a significant risk of tidal flooding from 7.30pm tonight when there will be a period of very high spring tides.
A tidal surge and strong winds at this time will result in tide levels higher than the natural tide levels.
The council says householders and businesses should take precautionary measures to protect property.
The council said it is highly likely that flooding will occur at low lying areas of the city centre including:
- Morrison’s Quay
- Fr. Mathew Quay
- Fr. Mathew Street
- Union Quay
- Trinity Bridge
- South Terrace
- Lavitts Quay
- Kyrls Street
- Kyrls Quay
- Crosses Green
- Sharman Crawford St
- Wandesford Quay.
There is also a risk of flooding at:
- Lapps Quay
- MacSwiney Quay
- Albert Quay
- Kennedy Quay
- Proby’s Quay
- Frenche’s Quay
- Lancaster Quay
- Sullivan’s Quay
- South Mall and via side streets onto Oliver Plunkett St and to Patrick Street, Grand Parade, Washington Street, and Lower Glanmire Road
Storm Ellen has left more than 25,000 homes and businesses without power in Cork after high winds caused trees to fall on power lines. The ESB are working to restore power as quickly as possible.
Skibbereen suffered flooding on Bridge Street last night despite the recent multi-million flood relief scheme while Bandon also suffered some flooding last night. The floodwaters did recede last night with some damage reported.
TD for Cork South West Christopher O'Sullivan said: "This shouldn’t be happening in Skibbereen. Millions were spent on flood protection.The entire town should be dry even in this intense rainfall. Part of me is not surprised. The flood committee flagged that this area needed more protection. OPW need to provide answers," he said.
Some roads are impassable in Cork due to trees down. According to Cork County Council, routes affected include: N22 east of Lissarda N25 at Lakeview Roundabout, Midleton; N72 west of Fermoy R624 at Fota; R612 between Carrigaline and Crosshaven; R586 west of Ballineen; N72-654; R626 Rathcormac to Midleton; R618-57 at Carrigknaven and R627 from Westpark to Midleton and the R618-57 from Cannon’s Cross to the Inniscarra Bar.
Cork County Council advises people to use extreme caution on the roads this morning as high winds/heavy rain overnight has resulted in hazardous road conditions, including fallen trees/debris and areas of spot flooding.
More wind and rain is forecast for today by Met Éireann, with a status yellow wind and rain warning in place for Cork.