Storm Frank disrupts travel and cuts power

Storm Frank last night closed almost 40 roads across Northern Ireland, left almost 7,500 homes without power and brought ferries and airports close to a standstill.

Gale force winds gusted to almost 70mph for hours along the north coast, while dozens of roads across south Down and north Armagh were particularly affected by fallen trees.

At one point 4,000 homes in Enniskillen area were without power as contractors risked their own safety throughout the night to reconnect power cables in winds of up to 60mph.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Met Office had issued wind and rain warnings right across the UK from Tuesday.

An amber rain warning is in place until 7am today - warning the public to prepare for disruption - while a lesser yellow wind warning is in place until 8am.

High winds snapped power cables with loss of power affecting thousands in Enniskillen, Ballymena and Coleraine and hundreds in Bangor, Downpatrick and Omagh.

The Met Office said that winds of around 50mph affected most of Northern Ireland with 15mm of rain having fallen by 11pm and 20-40mm expected by this morning, reaching 60mm on higher ground.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Flooding may be expected in some areas today as a result, a spokeswoman said.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council area saw 15 roads affected by fallen trees and one by flooding, while trees fell on 10 roads in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area. In Londonderry high vehicles were blocked from the Foyle Bridge while two roads were closed due to flooding.

The A20 Portaferry Road near Newtownards was closed between Finlays Road and Mount Stewart Road due to undermining of the carriageway by seawater.

Fermanagh had three roads closed due to flooding. A fallen tree closed the M22 in Antrim.

Meanwhile, the Coastguard helped rescue one person with a suspected broken ankle from Torr Head near Ballycastle yesterday.