Storm Barra, which has been battering Ireland since Tuesday morning, has had a considerable impact on the whole island. And now it’s time for an initial assessment. After 24 hours of storms, rain and strong winds, Ireland is experiencing flooding, falling trees and power cuts… Many schools and institutions have decided to close today…
Storm Barra, which was described by the weather services as a real “weather bomb”, unfortunately lived up to its promise. It has battered Ireland with force and intensity, and the consequences are already being felt.
The storm caused the River Lee in Cork to overflow its banks, flooding the city center quays. In County Kerry, many roads are impassable due to falling trees, power poles and heavy flooding.
⚠️#CorkCity flood alert has passed⚠️
High tide (2.68mOD) passed at 7.30am.
Significant road flooding, but no property damage reported.
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?Red wind warning still in place for the rest of the day?So stay indoors, & stay safe!@corkcitycouncil https://t.co/LeVWCK6kpA pic.twitter.com/wOIsSHpde9
— Simon Lyons (@ThePoliteEng) December 7, 2021
We’ve lost count of the number of households affected by material damage: falling objects, damage to roofs, water infiltration caused by rain… etc. ESB Networks, Ireland’s electricity supplier, reported power outages across the country, with one in particular affecting almost 15,000 customers in Donegal in the north-west of the Republic of Ireland.
Flooding on the approach to the Suspension Bridge in Kenmare (N71 road). Road is impassable #StormBarra #Kerry @radiokerrynews @NuachtBnG @jerosullivanRK @HalloranCathy @Kenews @anewshack pic.twitter.com/O9PsZAUypo
— Kerry County Council – Comhairle Contae Chiarraí (@countykerry) December 7, 2021
As a result, all Aer Lingus flights scheduled to depart from Cork airport have also been cancelled. Ryanair, for its part, has reserved its decision for the day’s flights, and intends to communicate on this subject within the next few hours.
At Dublin airport, a 9am flight to Newark was cancelled and an Air France service to Paris was also cancelled.
The overall damage prompted the Ministry of Education to close schools in the worst-affected counties in the country. This decision also applies to higher and further education establishments.
But rest assured: although the storm isn’t completely over yet, it looks like the worst of it has already passed. The low-pressure system may last until 4pm today, before weakening.
This is good news when you consider that Barra blew particularly hard yesterday: a wind gust of 156 km/h was recorded at the Fastnet lighthouse off the south coast, while another gust of 113 km/h was recorded at 6 a.m. on Sherkin Island, just off the Cork coast.
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