While the ferocity of Storm Éowyn subsides there will still be little respite from the weather over the weekend with warnings in place until Sunday afternoon.
The winds may have died down but the mess left behind will take days to clear; and it certainly won’t be helped with a snow and ice warning in place on Saturday.
Temperatures will remain below freezing overnight and won’t break above that until around 11am on Saturday.
On Sunday, there is a yellow warning for further wind from 8am until 3pm.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “The influence of Storm Éowyn on the UK’s weather will diminish as it moves further north and east on Saturday morning, but there’s little respite in the conditions for some with the next area of low pressure arriving from the southwest on Sunday.
“While Sunday’s system doesn’t have the same strength as Eowyn, it will hamper some recovery efforts and bring further wind and rain, with the possibility of some flooding in places. 10-20mm of rain will fall quite widely on Sunday in central and southern England, much of Wales and Northern Ireland, with 30-50mm possible over high ground. Thundery showers could top up totals later in the day for some.
“With this rain falling on saturated ground in many places, there’s a chance of flooding for some, with winds an accompanying hazard with the system.”
In Pictures: Devastation across Co Armagh as Storm Éoywn leaves it mark
Meanwhile, the Department for Infrastructure says that since midnight last night more than 1,827 obstructions on the road network have been reported to the department and these include 873 on our motorways and class A, B and C roads.
A Department spokesperson said: “Given the extent of disruption across the road network it will take time to clear and get all roads open as normal again. Staff are on standby to respond to incidents, but our response time is being affected by the adverse conditions and incidents will have to prioritised accordingly. The safety of members of the public and our own staff is paramount.
“Road users should pay heed to ‘road closed’ signs as these warnings are intended to keep the travelling public safe.
“A yellow weather warning is also in place for snow and ice between 7pm tonight and 10am tomorrow morning and the ongoing storm clear up may disrupt the Department’s delivery of the winter service.
“While efforts will be made to salt the main strategic road network our ability to do so may be impeded by blocked roads and difficult conditions so please continue to consider if your journey is necessary and if you must travel please exercise extreme caution, stay on the main strategic network where possible and be mindful of changing conditions as roads which are normally gritted might not be. Updates will be provided once the situation has been assessed further.
“NIE Networks is reminding the public to stay clear of any damaged electricity equipment and report it immediately to the Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643. Members of the public should never approach a broken pole or electricity line.
Should customers experience a power cut they can report the fault and check for updates at Powercheck NI (powercheck.nienetworks.co.uk)
Elsewhere, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has praised NI Fire and Rescue Service crews, who have been dealing with multiple incidents including fallen trees and electrical poles, and health and social care workers for their service and dedication during Storm Éowyn.
The Minister said: “There are no words that can properly describe the debt of gratitude we owe to emergency services and the entire health and social care workforce.
“While we have been at home and following advice to stay safe, they have been dealing with call-outs and caring for people in hospitals, other facilities, and in the community. My heartfelt thanks goes to each and every one of them.
“Good contingency planning by our Health and Social Care Trusts and our Primary and Community care partners, alongside excellent multi-agency working, has enabled the health system to rise to the challenge presented by the severe storm. Some parts of hospitals and other facilities have had to rely on generators and it has been necessary to clear fallen trees and debris to enable staff to get into healthcare sites. Right across the HSC, teams are working at pace to ensure that patients and service users receive the care they need.
“I also want to thank the community for following the public safety advice during Storm Éowyn. The red alert posed a significant challenge to emergency services and to our society. Public cooperation is absolutely vital and very much appreciated.
“I would also like to reassure people whose scheduled appointments and planned procedures have been postponed that Trust staff are working hard to reschedule as soon as possible. And I would ask the public to be patient as some services may continue to experience some disruption over the next few days.”
