Latest: See the extent of the floods in Cork as the ESB restores power to another 13,000 customers
ESB Networks crews say they have restored power to a further 13,000 homes, farms and businesses this evening.
They have managed to restore 335,000 customers back on the grid, but work continues to restore another 50,000 who are still without power due to storm Ophelia.
ESB says the restoration work is happening in difficult conditions, which are set to deteriorate with the arrival of Storm Brian over the weekend.
Wexford and Cork remain the worst affected counties.
Parts of Cork have been flooded already even before storm Brian hits.
Today's continuous heavy rain has seen localised flooding in parts of the city and county.
Around 30mm to 50mm of rain was forecast across Munster.
ESB Networks is warning that storm Brian may hamper efforts to restore power and cause further electricity outages on Saturday.
Up to 63,000 homes remain without power this evening after storm Ophelia and 30,000 eir customers are without broadband, telephone and mobile services.
Flooding at the bridge at the entrance to Belgooly on the Cork side #Weather pic.twitter.com/Q6XUaoKRL6
— Lana O'Connor (@LanaRedFM) October 19, 2017
ESB Networks says should weather conditions worsen at the weekend, crews will be stood down until it is safe to resume repairs.
Residents and businesses in Cork City are breathing a sigh of relief this evening after the local council confirmed they do not expect any widespread tidal flooding.
Continued heavy rain has seen localised flooding in parts of the city and county, however.
Both the city and county councils have issued flood alerts for tomorrow.
Continued heavy rain MAY result in localised surface flooding in the city today but NO tidal flooding is expected this evening/ tonight
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 19, 2017
Roads closed in East Cork Municipal District pic.twitter.com/sm9tUc50jd
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2017
Coastal Safety Update pic.twitter.com/ekESeMWRMu
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2017
R594 is flooded at Madore North of Skibberen. Local council staff are liasing with Skibbereen flood committee pic.twitter.com/ChGreZ8ar4
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2017
Meanwhile, Brittany Ferries have announced that due to adverse weather conditions, the Brittany Ferries sailings from Roscoff / Cork tomorrow and Cork / Roscoff on Saturday have been cancelled.
In a statement Brittany Ferries said they are currently contacting all passengers scheduled to travel the route tomorrow and Saturday to offer assistance.
Passengers due to travel can also contact the Brittany Ferries call centre at 00 353 21 4277801.
"The company apologises to all passengers for the inconvenience this will cause to journeys," the statement concluded.
Met Éireann has issued two Status Orange Weather Warnings this afternoon.
The warnings come as the latest adverse weather system on its way to Ireland was officially named ‘Storm Brian’ by Met Éireann.
#StormBrian has been named by @MetEireann as the second storm of the season, bringing strong winds to Ireland and the UK on Saturday pic.twitter.com/r2zxzqeSrL
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 19, 2017
A Wind Warning, valid from 6am – 6pm on Saturday, has been issued for counties Galway and Mayo, warning of northwest winds, reaching “mean speeds 65-80 km/h with gusts 110-130 km/h in coastal parts of Connacht with the risk of coastal flooding”.
Ah fiddlesticks!!#StormBrian #HighStool pic.twitter.com/dpFQYFmqF5
— bobby2cans (@bob2Cans) October 19, 2017
A separate Status Orange Wind Warning for Wexford, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford was also issued at lunchtime today.
“West to Southwest winds veering Northwest will reach mean speeds 65-80 km/h with gusts 110-130 km/h in coastal parts of Munster and coastal parts of Wexford with the risk of coastal flooding,” that warning states.
This warning is valid from a minute past midnight on Saturday morning, until later that day at 12 midday.
If you want to know what has to happen for it to be known as a #WeatherBomb here's a handy definition pic.twitter.com/RNxqH98Cz9
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 19, 2017
Earlier this morning at 9am, a Status Yellow Wind Warning, applying to all of Ireland was also issued.
It stated: “West to Southwest winds in Southern parts becoming Northwest generally countrywide will reach mean speeds up to 65 km/h with gusts up to 110 km/h at times (potentially higher for a period in coastal parts of the South and West, see orange warning for details).”
This warning will come into effect from 10pm tomorrow (Friday) until 10pm on Saturday.
Cork Council has issued a precautionary warning to the public in view of ongoing poor weather conditions.
#CorkFloods Flooding on the main Dungourney Road. pic.twitter.com/zaXYshKjNS
— Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) October 19, 2017
Heavy rainfall with accumulations of 30-50mm is forecast across Munster, and some incidents of spot flooding have already occurred.
Parts of #Blackpool flooded this morning. pic.twitter.com/pA8YX8oXwa
— Niamh Áine 👩🏻💻📝 (@niamhaineryan) October 19, 2017
#CORK There is flooding at Mogeely, just off the #N25 Cork/Waterford Rd at Castlemartyr but the road is passable. https://t.co/pdsEzJTRQr
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) October 19, 2017
"There are large accumulations of fallen leaves at many locations around the city following Hurricane Ophelia, creating the potential for spot flooding," the warning states.
"Motorists are asked to drive with care and to remain vigilant as regards the potential for spot flooding.
Latest rainfall radar. Moving NE'wards.
— ☀Metalert Ireland☀ (@MetAlertIreland) October 19, 2017
Drive with care today, localised flooding on road networks.#LightsOn #Slowdown #Lowvisibility pic.twitter.com/0kIB6eh1mR
"Also, as wind speeds increase the public is being warned that many trees remain damaged and unstable following the hurricane. People should travel with care."
#CorkTraffic R605 is impassable due to a fallen tree, townlands on this road include Knocksmall, Leighmoney More, Lissard & Shippool.
— Cork Safety Alerts (@CorkSafetyAlert) October 19, 2017
Ireland’s recent spell of bad weather is set to continue after Met Éireann issued a new Weather Warning for the entire country.
Many areas are already at risk of spot flooding today after the forecaster warned that as much as 50mm of rain can be expected in the south and east.
It will be a mild and murky trip into work for many tomorrow, with low cloud, fog and some rain too pic.twitter.com/81mMhWLGRm
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 18, 2017
Some flooding has already been reported in Cork.
#CORK Flooding on North City Link Rd in the city near the turn-off for Watercourse Rd. Avoid the area if possible. https://t.co/pdsEzJTRQr
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) October 19, 2017
Heavy&persistent rain in many areas,local flooding likely. Rain ease off in the W in eve.Strong wind around W&S coasts in aft.Highs 13-14°C.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 19, 2017
A Status Yellow Rainfall Warning for Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Meath remains in effect for all of today.
However, a new Weather Advisory has warned that Ireland is likely to experience more wet and windy weather on Friday night and Saturday.
Rain has moved into the west of the country.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 19, 2017
Valentia in Co. Kerry has received 7mm in 2 hours.
Rain spreading to all areas overnight. pic.twitter.com/PA0pHjFBgE
This new Status Yellow Advisory, issued yesterday, states: “An Atlantic Depression is expected to track eastwards over parts of Ireland on Saturday.
“South to southeasterly winds on Friday night will veer northwesterly on Saturday and are expected to reach yellow warning criteria, at this stage.
“There is potential for mean wind speeds of 50 to 60km/h and gusts of 90 to 110km/h, especially in coastal counties.”
The nationwide warning is in effect from 6pm on Friday to a minute before midnight on Saturday.
Around 70,000 people remain without power after storm Ophelia, with water outages affecting 25,000 households.
Communications company eir estimates that 50,000 customers remain without broadband, telephone and mobile service as crews continue to repair the damage caused by ex-Hurricane Ophelia.
There are over 1,000 different locations across the country where we have sustained network damage.
The southern half of the country continues to be the worst affected area. The counties with the highest amount of customers without service are: Cork (15,980); Wexford (6,112) and Limerick (3,965).
“We expect the total number of customers without service will continue to reduce as power supply issues are resolved. However, the number of individual line faults reported to us will rise over the coming days,” the company stated.
“Given the overhead nature of our network in rural areas, the damage is extensive and repair work will take time.”
