UP TO 8000 ESB CUSTOMERS WITH NO POWER THIS MORNING AS STORM CALLUM BEGINS TO HIT IRELAND
Storm Callum moved into the southwest coast on Thursday night and is starting to batter the southwest of Ireland this morning with strong winds and gusts expected nationwide over the coming hours with the risk of power outages and trees coming down.
Already this morning at 12:20am severe gust of 151km/hr was recorded 6 miles of the County Cork coast at Fastnet Light house where a gust of 151km/hr was recorded and just before midnight a gust of 131km/hr was also recorded there. The strongest gust on mainland so far was recorded at Valentia County Kerry at 12:00am of 120km/hr.
Already up to 8000 ESB customers are with power in the county of Cork, Kerry and Limerick with further outages expected across a good portion of Ireland by later this morning. Some areas may not see power restored for a number of days if the lose power.
There are reports of tree down in the county’s of Cork and Kerry already this morning.
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Fastnet Rock, or simply Fastnet is a small islet in the Atlantic Ocean and the most southerly point of Ireland. It lies 6.5 kilometres southwest of Cape Clear Island and 13 kilometres from County Cork on the Irish mainland
Winds will start to really strengthen elsewhere after midnight especially after 1am. Winds will ease along the east, south and south east around 7am/8am Friday morning.
Across the southwest, west and northwest winds will continue very strong with severe and damaging gusts expected of up to 130km/hr with gusts of up to 140km/hr to 150km/hr possible along exposed coastal areas of the western coastal parts of Munster, Connacht and Donegal.
I feel that the strongest gusts will be recorded in west Galway & west/northwest Mayo.
The strong winds and gusts will clear western and northwestern areas by 5pm/6pm Friday afternoon.
Gusts will strengthen over the coming hours with some severe and damaging ones likely along with power outages.
The public are urged to stay away from all coastal area due to high spring tides, the risk of coastal flooding, a storm surge and strong wind. You will be putting your life in danger and others if you don't heed the warning.