DONEGAL was lashed by winds of up to 16o km/hr today – taking power from 2,000 homes and several schools.
Schools on Aranmore closed for the day and Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair also closed due to a power failure caused by high winds. A number of trees are also down in many parts of the county and there were reports of damage to some homes and outbuildings.
Both RTE and the BBC have updated their warnings for this evening – especially in the North-West where the winds have died down but there are warnings of extremely high tides with the possibility of coastal flooding.
In Scotland the Government took the unprecedented step of closing ALL schools along the west coast while schools on the east coast closed at noon.
The gusts saw winds 40km/hr HIGHER than hurricane-style storms which battered the county in the autumn.
That’s worse than the winds which hit Donegal in September when 120 km/hr winds were recorded at Malin Head when the remnants of Hurricane Katia hit the county. Our video above – taken back then – shows one man’s struggle with the winds that day.
Donegal County Council closed the Harry Blaney Bridge for a time and Gardai warned drivers of high-sided vehicles of serious dangers to them.
Met Eireann has also updated its forecast for this evening to say: “It will be cold and extremely windy on Thursday night with strong to gale force and gusty westerly winds. Showers too, mainly in the north and west, some heavy and turning wintry, with some snow at times. This mainly on high ground, but some possible at lower levels also. Lowest temperatures -2 to plus 2 C., with frost and icy patches countrywide also.”
The BBC and RTE are also now forecasting snow (as above) for Thursday night/Friday and Saturday night/Sunday.
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