A deluge of rain and strong winds has led to travel chaos and event closures as Storm Darragh hits Northern Ireland.
Power cuts, blocked roads, suspended trains and cancelled flights are some of the impacts currently being felt.
Follow live updates on our live blog below:
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What weather warnings are in place on Saturday?
Roads blocked by fallen trees
Flight cancellations
Latest on sport disruption
Busses suspended from Ballymena
PSNI at scene of serious crash
Now 46k without power
Some may remain without power until Sunday due to the volume of disruptions to the network.
NIE said: “Due to the number of faults we are currently experiencing on the network, we are unable to provide an estimated restoration time for your electricity supply at this time. We are working to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible.”
A spokesperson added: “Hundreds of extra staff have been brought in to help reinforce our normal capability. Our Incident Management Centre at Craigavon has been opened, as have our Local Incident Centres which are in locations across Northern Ireland and used by our teams to co-ordinate our localised response.
A2 closed due to fallen tree
Merseyside Derby postponed
In the NI Football League, there are pitch inspections later this morning ahead of:
- Dundela vs Institute
- Knockbreda vs Lisburn Distillery
- Tobermore United vs Oxford Sunnyside
Reminder: Belfast Christmas Market closed today
The Enchanted Winter Garden in Antrim is also closed today “to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and performers”. All tickets will be automatically refunded.
All train services suspended until further notice
- All trains out of Belfast Grand Central subject to delay
- All Goldliner bus services suspended until further notice
- All 300/a services to Belfast International and X2 to Dublin suspended
- All coastal bus services (140a/b and 402) suspended
- Enterprise services from Dublin will terminate in Dundalk this morning
Belfast bus crashes into building overnight
Flight and ferry update
There are currently no reports of flight cancellations at Belfast International.
All Stena Line ferries due to sail from Belfast to Cairnryan – and vice versa – have thus far been cancelled on Saturday, apart from the 7.30pm and the 11.30pm routes.
The Liverpool-Belfast ferries have also been cancelled.
The Strangford ferry has also been suspended.
What weather warnings are in place on Saturday?
Gusts of up to 70 to 80mph are expected around coastal areas while inland winds could reach 60 to 70mph.
Damage to buildings is possible with the potential for roofs to be blown off and power lines to be brought down.
There is the potential for disruption to roads and public transport and the Met Office has also said that “flying debris and falling trees could result in a danger to life”.
A yellow warning for rain is also still in place until 12 noon today, with the slight chance that homes and buildings may flood, while a yellow warning for wind lasts right through until 6am on Sunday.
Roads blocked by fallen trees
The police have urged the public to “consider essential travel only”.
The full list of blocked roads is:
Belfast
- Upper Springfield Road closed at Monagh Bypass – Fallen tree
- Falls Road closed at La Salle Drive in both directions – Fallen trees
- Malone Road near the House of Sport – Fallen trees
- Castle Street – Fallen cables
- A2 Bangor Road Belfast bound impassable after Whinney Hill
- Dromore Road closed at Moira Road, Hillsborough – Fallen tree
- Ballygowan Road Comber closed – Fallen tree
- A505 Omagh – Cookstown Road has a high volume of fallen trees and is closed to traffic
- Tullycullion Rd1 Mullaghmore Rd – fallen tree
- Castlecaulfield Rd1 Foygh Rd – fallen tree
- Drumreany Rd2 Killyharry Rd -fallen tree
- Old Ballygawley Rd2 Ballygawley Rd – fallen tree
- M1 Westbound between J9 Moira and J10 Lurgan – Fallen tree, road partially obstructed.
- Cullybackey Road closed at Sand Road – Fallen tree
- Fenaghy Road, Ballymena closed – Fallen tree
- Crebilley Road, Ballymena closed – Fallen tree
- Colin Road closed at Braehill Road, Ballymena – Fallen tree
- A8(M) between Sandyknowes roundabout towards Corrs Corner closed – Fallen tree
Over 40k without power
Damage includes broken overhead power lines, fallen trees across lines, broken poles.
NIE Networks’ engineers are currently assessing the extent of the damage in each area affected and deploying staff and equipment to where they are most needed. This process will take several hours to complete. Repair work will begin as soon as it is safe for emergency crews to do so.
A spokesperson for NIE Networks said: “Hundreds of extra staff have been brought in to help reinforce our normal capability. Our Incident Management Centre at Craigavon has been opened, as have our Local Incident Centres which are in locations across Northern Ireland and used by our teams to co-ordinate our localised response.
- Never approach broken overhead power lines or damaged poles and keep children and animals away. Report any damage to NIE Networks immediately on 03457 643 643.
- If you are using a generator, be careful where you site it in case of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Turn off electric cookers, ovens, irons, etc. if electricity supply is lost.
- Leave a light switched on so you know when power has been restored.
- Take extra care if using candles.
- Test smoke alarms with fresh batteries.
- Ensure adequate ventilation if using gas heaters.
GAA postponement
Flight cancellations
15 flights from these airlines that were due to land in Belfast throughout the day have also been cancelled.
Roads flooded
Belfast’s Christmas shoppers hit with wet and windy weather
Stay up to date with travel changes
On Friday, Stena Line vessel Superfast VII which was due to arrive in Cairnryan from Belfast at 1.52pm was delayed and another Superfast VII due to dock in Cairnryan at 9.52pm has also been delayed.
All ferries due to sail from Belfast to Cairnryan – and vice versa – have thus far been cancelled on Saturday, apart from the 7.30pm journey and the 11.30pm one.
The Stena Edda from Belfast to Liverpool at 10.30pm tonight has also been cancelled, as has the Stena Embla to Liverpool at 10.30am on Saturday, and the 10.30pm line.
Tonight’s 10.30pm Liverpool-Belfast route has been cancelled, as have the two Liverpool-Belfast ferries planned for Saturday.
A Stena Line spokesperson said: “Passengers can stay up to date with any delays and cancellations on our routes due to Storm Darragh at www.stenaline.co.uk/ferrycheck”
No flights have yet been majorly disrupted at Belfast City Airport or Belfast International.
A Belfast City Airport spokesperson said: “Flight disruption due to adverse weather conditions across the UK is to be expected over the weekend. Passengers should therefore check the status of their flight with the airline before travelling to the airport.”
Affected sports fixtures
First, be sure to check whether Storm Darragh will be affecting your sporting plans 👇
Confirmed Belfast City Council closures so far
- All our grass and 3G pitches are closed over the weekend from Friday 6 December.
- All our parks and playgrounds are closed on Saturday 7 December. Parkruns are also cancelled.
- Our household recycling centres and civic amenity sites are closed on Saturday 7 December.
- Belfast Christmas Market is closed on Saturday 7 December.
- Belfast Zoo is closed on Saturday 7 December.
- Our cemeteries and crematorium grounds are closed on Saturday 7 December. Scheduled burials and cremations will proceed as normal.
- There is no night time noise service on Friday 6 December.
- Our community centres and leisure centres are open for organised indoor activities as normal on Saturday 7 December.
Watch: Belfast Charity launch annual appeal and ‘Christmas Jumper Day’