More than 93,000 homes and business in Northern Ireland are currently without power, NIE has confirmed.
Dozens of flights have also been cancelled at Belfast airports this morning as high winds from Storm Éowyn begin to batter Northern Ireland.
Both Belfast International and Belfast City airports have seen scores of flights cancelled with passengers being urged to check the status of flights with airlines.
All schools in Northern Ireland are closed today as Storm Éowyn sweeps in.
The Met Office has issued a rare red alert, which covers all of Northern Ireland from 7am until 2pm with forecasters warning of “very dangerous conditions” and “widespread disruption”.
A yellow weather warning has also been issued for Sunday for strong winds, in place from 8am until 3pm.
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Read our live blog with all the latest weather coverage here:
Key updates
Advice on staying safe as Storm Éowyn makes landfall
Government’s first ever mobile phone emergency alert sent
Stormont press conference: ‘Dangerous to think this is like any other storm’
More than 93,000 homes and businesses without power in NI
NIE Networks has confirmed it has activated its emergency plans in response to Storm Eowyn.
A spokesperson said: “Due to high winds, and with a red weather warning in place, we are experiencing widespread damage to the electricity network.
“Currently over 93,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are off power. However, restoration efforts will take significant time as crews cannot begin to work until it is safe to do so. We anticipate we will begin assessing the damage to the network after 2pm once the red weather warning has been lifted.
“Currently over 93,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are off power. However, restoration efforts will take significant time as crews cannot begin to work until it is safe to do so. We anticipate we will begin assessing the damage to the network after 2pm once the red weather warning has been lifted.
“We strongly advise customers, particularly anyone vulnerable, to shelter where you are until the red weather warning is lifted. Once the severe weather warnings are lifted, if your power is out, consider joining friends and relatives who have power.”
If a power cut does happen, it is crucial that you follow the below advice.
- Never touch damaged electricity equipment
- Check in on vulnerable family, neighbours and friends, without travelling while red warning is in place
- Keep the freezer door closed to help preserve your food
- Report a power cut via nienetworks.co.uk, WhatsApp, Facebook or call our helpline on 03457 643 643
Tree down and electric wires sparking in west Belfast
Warning: Video contains strong language
Tree down on Donegall Road
Operations at Belfast International Airport limited as it deals with ‘intermittent power outages’
In a statement a spokesperson said: “Operations at Belfast International Airport remain limited during Friday’s Red weather warning as Northern Ireland experiences the impact of Storm Éowyn.
“PSNI have advised that people should not travel on roads within the Met Office’s Red weather warning area – passengers should continue to follow that advice.
“Across the airport site we have experienced intermittent power outages, and we are working with our airline partners to understand how their flights will be impacted as the day goes on.
“This remains a fast-moving situation and flight schedules will continue to change over the coming hours. Passengers should continue to check with their airline throughout today and tomorrow for the latest updates to flights. If their flight is operating passengers are reminded to arrive at the airporttwo hours before their airlines scheduled departure time.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience at this time. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
More than 70 reports of trees down on the roads says police
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck has said that that NI roads are dangerous as expected, due to ‘significant amounts of debris’.
He told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster that more than 70 reports of trees down on the road have been made so far.
He told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster that more than 70 reports of trees down on the road have been made so far.
Bricks come off homes in south Belfast
M2 southbound closed due to fallen trees
The M2 southbound is closed between Dunsilly and Rathbeg, due to a number of fallen trees. Please seek an alternative route for your journey, and only travel if strictly necessary.
Glider stop destroyed by high winds in east Belfast
A glider stop in east Belfast destroyed as Storm Eowyn arrives in Northern Ireland .(Photo by Kevin Scott)
Strongest winds recorded in Northern Ireland so far
Two hours since the red warning came into force these are the strongest winds recorded:
- Killowen 92.2mph
- Orlock Head 85.6mph
- Thomastown 78mph
- Glenanne 77mph
- Aldergrove 76mph
- Katesbridge 71.1mph
Road in Dundonald closed due to fallen power lines
The Gransha Road, Dundonald is completely closed due to fallen power lines. Please seek an alternative route for your journey, and only travel if strictly necessary.
Tree down in Belfast
A tree down in Townsend Street as Storm Eowyn arrives in Northern Ireland .(Photo by Kevin Scott)
Video shows lights flashing on and off in Sperrin Mountains
Telegraph pole shocker
Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood has posted this on X – a photograph showing a telegraph pole appearing to be uprooted and blowing in the air in her constituency. On the opposite side of the road, another pole appears to have snapped. Ms Eastwood posted: “Blaris right now. Yes that is a Telegraph pole in mid air.”
92mph wind recorded in NI and 114mph recorded in Republic of Ireland
Deputy First Minister says ‘preparations are there’ as NI hit by power outages
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme this morning Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelley said ‘preparations are there’ as she urged the public to stay at home.
It comes as more than more than 93,000 homes and businesses without power in NI
The DFM urged the public to monitor government channels for updates and said that ‘mechanisms and protocols’ have been activated.
Ms Little-Pengelley said that people should follow advice and stay home, adding that there is a risk to life because of flying debris.
It comes as more than more than 93,000 homes and businesses without power in NI
The DFM urged the public to monitor government channels for updates and said that ‘mechanisms and protocols’ have been activated.
Ms Little-Pengelley said that people should follow advice and stay home, adding that there is a risk to life because of flying debris.
“If people go out and get into a situation, then that is calling out those essential workers, and we don’t want people to come out to have to deal with those,” she said.
“So we are advising everyone to stay at home, there is a significant outage on the electricity, I understand that almost 500 have been reported right throughout Northern Ireland, that was anticipated.”
Ms Little-Pengelley added: “I want to reassure the public that the preparations are there, the network is there in terms of stepping up, but what you can do, and everyone can play their part in this, is to stay home.
“The storm will blow over, the worst of it is here at the moment, and over the next number of hours, but of course we will get through that.
“We of course importantly have that information from other parts of this island this morning, because the storm has hit earlier in other parts.
“So we know that this is serious, and as I said yesterday we always want to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
“This is a very serious storm, it is a red alert, there is a significant danger, particularly from flying debris. If something is going on outside your house, stay inside because the danger to you is from that flying debris over the next couple of hours.”
She encouraged people to reach out and call to check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family admitting that this was a very challenging time for some. But the DFM reminded people that they should not go outside, unless necessary.
“I emphasise this very strongly, no matter what it is going on outside, stay inside and stay safe,” she said.
She encouraged people to reach out and call to check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family admitting that this was a very challenging time for some. But the DFM reminded people that they should not go outside, unless necessary.
“I emphasise this very strongly, no matter what it is going on outside, stay inside and stay safe,” she said.
“No matter what it is, there will be agencies on hand, as soon as it is safe for those people to go out, and to support to get electricity back on to get roads cleared.
“But stay off the roads and stay inside and do give those relatives and friends a calls and do make sure that they are ok.”
Addressing he electricity shortages, Ms Little-Pengelley said that ‘preparations are there, the mechanisms and protocols have been activated, so we are monitoring this very very closely.’
“We anticipate this will only last for the next number of hours, and then we will take a look at what damage has been done, and we will do our best,” she said.
Ms Little-Pengelley added that it was important to also keep frontline and essential workers safe during the worst of the storm.
Storm Eowyn
Hillhall Road closed due to fallen trees
Motorists are advised that the Hillhall Road, Lisburn is closed completely due to multiple fallen trees and power cables. Please seek an alternative route for your journey, and only travel if strictly necessary.
Storm to the North East of Ireland
Trees down on NI road network
The below roads are blocked due to fallen trees.
- Areema Drive in Belfast
- Ballyginnif Road in Antrim/Newtownabbey
- Knockburn Drive in Lisburn
- Old Shore Road in Carrickfergus
- Old Belfast Road in Ballynahinch
First Minister says ‘we’re in the eye of the storm’ as she urges the public to be ‘ultra cautious’
Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme this morning, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the ‘threat is real’ as she urged people to take every precaution they can.
Ms O’Neill said: “We’re in a very significant situation, it is a red alert. That is not, to I suppose, instill a fear in people but it is to say that the potential risk to life and property damage is very real. There is a genuine threat to life and property
“So we’re asking the public to be very safe, to be very cautious, to take every precaution, to ensure they don’t take any unnecessary travel, to please just stay at home, if you can.
“We’re in the eye of the storm now, we are in the period of the red alert, but people can see for themselves the wind has very much been picking up overnight.
“We’ve just been briefed by the Civic Contingencies Group, by the PSNI who are in the lead in terms of the storm response and they tell us the situation is as we outlined yesterday.
“We’re still in a period of jeopardy in terms of the damage that could potentially be caused as a result of the storm.
“I think the message the real message we want to get across to your listeners this morning is to please be ultra cautious, to please stay home if you can and we will see how the storm will rage.”
Ms O’Neill added that the “threat is real” and urged people to take every precaution they can.
“We’ve just been briefed by the Civic Contingencies Group, by the PSNI who are in the lead in terms of the storm response and they tell us the situation is as we outlined yesterday.
“We’re still in a period of jeopardy in terms of the damage that could potentially be caused as a result of the storm.
“I think the message the real message we want to get across to your listeners this morning is to please be ultra cautious, to please stay home if you can and we will see how the storm will rage.”
Ms O’Neill added that the “threat is real” and urged people to take every precaution they can.
Speaking as the red alert for Northern Ireland came into force the First Minister said it was a ‘challenging’ situation particularly for those working on the frontline and in essential services.
“Health in particular is an area where they’re trying to manage the situation as best as they can,” she said.
“Some non-essential services have been turned down, they’re not encouraging people to come for routine appointments but there is essential healthcare that is required.
“I would ask people to be mindful that, particularly during the period of the red alert from 7 o’clock to 2 o’clock, we can’t send out essential healthcare workers or even maintenance people, because they would also be in danger, it’s a very challenging situation.”
She added that urged employers head the current advice and to keep employees safe, but she accepted this would be very challenging for some people and services.
“Health in particular is an area where they’re trying to manage the situation as best as they can,” she said.
“Some non-essential services have been turned down, they’re not encouraging people to come for routine appointments but there is essential healthcare that is required.
“I would ask people to be mindful that, particularly during the period of the red alert from 7 o’clock to 2 o’clock, we can’t send out essential healthcare workers or even maintenance people, because they would also be in danger, it’s a very challenging situation.”
She added that urged employers head the current advice and to keep employees safe, but she accepted this would be very challenging for some people and services.
Emergency services attending serious crash in Donegal
Emergency services are attending a serious traffic collision on N14 north of Lifford, in Donegal.
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Storm Eowyn arrives in Northern Ireland