Thousands still without power as Storm Amy sweeps through NI

About 22,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland were still without electricity on Saturday morning after Storm Amy caused significant damage to the power network.

At the height of the storm, roughly 65,000 customers were left in the dark. By late Friday evening (22:00 BST), engineers had restored supply to more than a third of those affected, reducing the figure to about 40,000.

Storm Amy also brought extreme winds, with the Magilligan weather station in County Londonderry recording gusts of 92mph (148km/h) on Friday afternoon. The figure is being provisionally treated as a new record for the month of October.

The Republic of Ireland was also severely impacted. About 120,000 properties remain without power on Saturday, and a man in his 40s tragically lost his life in County Donegal in what officials described as a “weather-related incident.”

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious, as repair work to the electricity network and fallen trees continues throughout the weekend.

Northern Ireland remains under weather warnings on Saturday as the impact of Storm Amy continues to disrupt daily life.

A yellow wind warning covering the entire region remains in effect until 23:59 BST, while a separate yellow warning for rain is active until midday. Officials have warned of further risks of flooding, debris, and hazardous travel conditions.

NIE Networks has cautioned that full restoration of power supplies may take several days, as engineers continue to repair extensive damage to the electricity network.

The storm also caused major travel disruption on Friday, with several flights and train services cancelled and numerous roads closed due to fallen trees and flooding.

In Lisburn, a tree came down on Ravernet Road, while in Belfast, blockages were reported on Creighton Road, Glencairn Way, and Strathmore Park South.

Heavy rainfall added to the problems, with flooding in several areas. The A26 Moira Road and the Whitebridge Road in Ballygawley, County Tyrone, were particularly affected after a river overflowed, leaving parts of the roadway impassable.

Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel where possible, and report hazards to local councils.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed that recovery operations following Storm Amy will continue throughout the weekend, as widespread disruption to travel and public services lingers.

A PSNI spokeswoman appealed for caution on Saturday morning, warning motorists of continuing hazards.

“We are particularly urging road users to exercise extra care and attention when driving. Surface water, flooding, fallen debris or temporary restrictions are all a strong possibility. Some roads are currently closed due to fallen trees or flooding. Everyone should still avoid unnecessary travel but if you must travel, take extra care and please reduce your speed.”

Air travel also remains affected. At Dublin Airport, about 20 flights were cancelled on Saturday due to ongoing high winds. However, spokesman Graeme McQueen said conditions were gradually improving.

“A number of flights which could not take off on Friday departed during this morning’s first wave. Wind speeds are due to decrease gradually through the day and most airlines are expecting to run full schedules. However, with further disruption possible, passengers should keep in touch with their airline for the latest updates.”

Schools and rail services were also impacted by the storm on Friday. The Education Authority (EA) instructed schools in Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone, and Fermanagh to close at midday “in the interests of safety.” Meanwhile, Translink suspended all train services across Northern Ireland due to the hazardous conditions.

Authorities continue to advise the public to remain vigilant, as clean-up operations and power restoration efforts are expected to take several more days.

🚨 Storm Amy Recovery Efforts Continue as Travel and Schools Disrupted Across Northern IrelandPSNI urges caution on the roads while flights, trains, and schools face ongoing disruption.