Storm Claudia has swept across Ireland, leaving a trail of disruption including widespread power outages and significant flooding in several regions.
Widespread Impact and Power Disruptions
The storm's force was felt nationwide on Saturday morning, with thousands of homes and businesses experiencing power cuts as weather warnings began to lift across the south-east. The ESB confirmed that fewer than 5,000 homes, farms, and businesses remained without electricity as of 9am Saturday, with repair crews having worked through the night since Friday to restore supply.
Flooding and Travel Hazards
Dramatic flooding was reported in Portarlington, situated on the border of counties Laois and Offaly, despite no official rain warning being issued for these areas. Fallen trees have blocked roads in various parts of the country, complicating travel. Social media footage captured striking scenes of sea foam being violently whipped onto shores at Loughshinny in Dublin and Bray, County Wicklow.
Weather forecaster Met Eireann had issued a status orange rain warning for Dublin, Wexford, and Wicklow, which remained in effect until 8am Saturday. A less severe status yellow rain warning covered ten additional counties, primarily along the east and south coasts, until 9am.
Official Response and Continuing Risks
Keith Leonard, national director for Fire and Emergency Management, revealed that local authorities had been preparing for the heavy rainfall since Thursday. He cautioned that flooding risks would persist even after weather alerts were lifted, as water levels could continue to rise. Fallen leaves blocking drains were noted as a significant complicating factor in flood management.
Transport services also felt the storm's impact, with Stena Line cancelling some ferry services on Friday due to the severe weather conditions. In Northern Ireland, a yellow-level rain warning remained active in counties Armagh and Down until noon on Saturday, bringing continued risks of flooding and hazardous travel conditions.
An ESB spokesman described the storm's effect on electricity infrastructure as a "modest impact" consistent with previous wind warnings of similar magnitude.
