Over 100 schools across Northern Ireland have suffered damage from Storm Éowyn.
Education Minister Paul Givan said it includes significant structural damage in some cases.
A similar number remain without power this afternoon.
Mr Givan has warned of an impact on how some schools operate on Monday.
“While every effort continues to be made over this weekend to ensure that impacted schools can reopen as soon as practicably possible, it is likely that some schools may need to move to remote learning on Monday,” he said.
It comes as a massive clean-up operation starts after the carnage wreaked by the weather.
Around 185,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity this afternoon after “devastating levels of damage” caused by winds in excess of 100mph.
A series of community facilities will open this weekend for those left without power.
Help is also on the way to get power restored to homes across Northern Ireland and the Republic, with 52 engineers being sent from England as part of established mutual aid agreements.
Economy Minister Conor Murphy confirmed the development following a meeting with the UK Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero minister.
Mr Murphy added: “There are already 52 engineers from England scheduled to arrive today, 30 of which will be utilised by NIE and 22 will assist ESB Networks in the south, with further additional resources to follow.”
Train services are due to resume on Saturday afternoon. Translink said the severity of the storm was “unprecedented with a litany of infrastructural damage across the network”.
John Glass, Director of Infrastructure and Projects, said: “More than 100 instances of debris and blockages obscuring the line right across the network – which far exceeds that of previous storms – have had to be managed.”
The storm also brought tragedy, with a young man killed in Co Donegal. Kacper Dudek (20), died after a tree fell on his car in Raphoe.
He was a past pupil of Holy Cross College in Strabane, Co Tyrone.
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A yellow alert for snow and ice was lifted in Northern Ireland at 10am – but two more alerts have been issued.
A fresh snow and ice warning is in place from 6pm tonight until 10am tomorrow.
And an updated yellow wind warning has been issued from 10am to 7pm on Sunday ahead of Storm Herminia.
This afternoon, NIE Networks said power had been restored to 100,000 customers, but 185,000 remain without supply.
They also warned people to stay clear of electrical equipment and power lines.
Derek Hynes, managing director for NIE Networks, said: “We are getting reports of members of the public coming into contact with electricity equipment in their bid to help restoration efforts. This includes cutting trees without realising that there are live power lines in contact with the trees and reports of people rolling up lines.
“There is a serious risk of harm to the public so we would again appeal for the public to stay well clear of any power lines or other equipment you may come across.”
Mr Hynes said it could take 10 days to restore power to all customers.
The highest recorded speed winds were in Belfast Harbour at a record-breaking 102.6 mph, while in Co Down, the village of Killowen recorded speeds of 92.2 mph.
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Read our live blog with all the latest weather coverage here:
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Met Office weather alerts update
Recording breaking gusts of 102mph recorded in NI
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Storm Éowyn causes devastation across Northern Ireland
Givan: Some schools may revert to remote learning
More than 100 schools are also still without power.
It could mean some are unable to open fully on Monday.
“While every effort continues to be made over this weekend to ensure that impacted schools can reopen as soon as practicably possible, it is likely that some schools may need to move to remote learning on Monday,” Mr Givan said.
EA’s School Transport Service plans to operate as normal on Monday, however there may be some disruption or delays to routes as a result of damage to roads
Speaking directly to school principals, Mr Givan continued: “I would ask schools to report critical repairs over this weekend through EA’s Maintenance Service’s Out of Hours Helpline on 028 3751 2345. NIE have also strongly advised not to approach any electricity equipment and to be extra careful around fallen trees and when assessing damage.
“If a decision has been taken to close your school building due to the impact of the storm, please continue to provide learning from home for the children and young people who are unable to attend school on Monday.”
Power outages
DFM welcomes extra help
70 trees cleared from M2 – O’Dowd
There were over 2,300 reported obstructions on the road network during the storm, with hazards remaining on many roads across Northern Ireland, he said.
Mr O’Dowd said the work involved in opening just one road can take many hours – for example, 70 trees had to be cleared yesterday to re-open the M2.
“Our teams have also been assisting the health services to clear debris on routes into hospital sites as well as working with NIE Networks and NI Water to gain access to their critical infrastructure,” he said.
“The clear up has been made more challenging with overnight snow and frost in many areas. Despite this, a gritting service was delivered on the main strategic road network and, again, I thank those who go out to do this work in the freezing weather.”
52 engineers from England to help with power restoration efforts
Translink: ‘Litany of damage across network’
The first passenger trains will run on the Lisburn, cross border and Bangor lines phasing in during the course of the afternoon.
Clearance work is continuing on the Larne Line and Londonderry Line and these will reopen as soon as safe to do so.
John Glass from Translink explained: “The severity of this storm is unprecedented with a litany of infrastructural damage across the network. We have mobilised our largest ever response to get services up and running again safely for customers.
“More than 100 instances of debris and blockages obscuring the line right across the network – which far exceeds that of previous storms – have had to be managed.
“This has included around 60 trees uprooted, numerous level crossing barriers damaged and multiple issues with structures and infrastructure along the line needing repair to date.”
NI school pays tribute to past pupil killed in Donegal
NIE warning on fallen power lines
At its peak, Storm Eowyn caused around 30% of all premises in Northern Ireland to lose power due to the high gusts.
Derek Hynes, managing director for NIE Networks, advised: “We are getting reports of members of the public coming into contact with electricity equipment in their bid to help restoration efforts. This includes cutting trees without realising that there are live power lines in contact with the trees and reports of people rolling up lines.
“There is a serious risk of harm to the public so we would again appeal for the public to stay well clear of any power lines or other equipment you may come across.
“Be mindful that trees and other infrastructure could be in contact with live power lines even if not immediately obvious.”
Power off, game off
Trains update
Community centres opened
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has opened three centres today and tomorrow, all between 10am and 4pm.
These are:
* Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena
* Larne Leisure Centre
* And Carrickfergus Amphitheatre Leisure Centre
Causeway Coast council has also opened the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre. Its hours are 8.15am to 3.30pm today, and 10am to 3:30pm tomorrow, Sunday.
Met Office weather alerts update
A yellow alert is in place for strong winds affecting Northern Ireland, potentially disrupting transport and infrastructure.
The alert is now in place from 10am to 7pm – previously it was 8am to 3pm.
More details here from Abdullah Sabri and Victoria Steveley.
Celtic clash off
Icy roads warning
New weather alert
Forecasters are warning of snow showers and icy patches leading to some travel disruption for this evening and overnight.
The alert is in place from 6pm today until 10am tomorrow.
Parts of Scotland are also affected.
The Met Office said: “Showers, mostly of rain and sleet at lowest levels and near western coasts, but of snow above around 150m, are expected to affect the area during Saturday evening and overnight, before dying away during Sunday morning.
“Temporary slushy deposits are expected below 150m, with locally 2-5cm above this level with the chance of 5-10cm above 400m in the Scottish Highlands. Additionally icy patches will form on untreated surfaces.”
Taoiseach: An ‘unprecedented’ storm
He described the destruction caused by some of the strongest winds on record as “unprecedented”.
“My Government will fully assess the situation in the coming days to see what supports we can offer people and businesses caught up in the aftermath of this storm,” he said today.
Storm victim named after death in Co Donegal
Kacper Dudek (20) was fatally injured during the incident on Friday morning.
Flights resume at International Airport
The airport said passengers should check with their airline directly as to the status of their flight in case there is any continuing impact from the storm.
“We are still experiencing some power shortages and technical issues today as a result of the storm, we are working to resolve those issues and minimise any impact. We thank passengers for their continued patience during this time,” a spokesperson said.
Staff at the airport “will be keeping a close watch on Storm Herminia as it arrives on Sunday”, they added.
Over half a million without power in RoI
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Storm Eowyn arrives in Northern Ireland