Tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Ireland were left without power on Saturday after Storm Bert hit. The effects of the violent weather are also felt in Great Britain, where some roads have been closed and trains are not running. Meteorologists warn against snowstorms, downpours and strong winds.
The Irish Meteorological Service issued a red alert overnight as rain hit counties Cork and Galway the hardest. Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Ireland's west coast, leaving some roads impassable.
ESB Networks reported that strong winds led to power outages overnight that affected 60,000 homes, farms and businesses in Ireland, mainly in the west and north-west of the country. “ESB Networks crews are working to restore power to affected areas,” the company said, warning of further power outages over the weekend.
There are no trains in Scotland
Orange alerts are in effect across the UK due to heavy snowfall in Scotland, Wales and northern England. In some parts of the country, roads are under a thick layer of snow. Lower level warnings for high winds have been issued for Scotland, Wales and the west of England.
ScotRail reported on the X platform that some rail services such as the Inverness-Elgin and Aberdeen-Inverurie routes – both popular with tourists visiting Scotland – had been suspended due to the weather.
“Multiple Threats”
“Storm Bert is a multi-hazard event that will bring snow, rain and wind to the UK for much of the weekend,” said Jason Kelly, chief meteorologist at the UK Met Office.
He said there was a possibility of “heavy snowfall, particularly in higher areas across Scotland, north Wales and northern England.”
Main photo source: Reuters