Storm Eowyn Causes Widespread Power Outages Across Ireland

Storm Eowyn has left nearly a third of Ireland without power, affecting approximately 715,000 customers as it brought record-breaking winds and severe travel disruptions throughout the region on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Ireland faced power outages on Friday as Storm Eowyn swept across the country, unleashing record-breaking winds and creating chaos in travel plans. The storm has impacted a notable portion of the population, with about 715,000 customers of ESB Networks, the country's state-owned power provider, left without electricity, comprising nearly a third of the utility's total customer base of approximately 2.4 million.

The Irish Meteorological Service had warned of gales affecting Ireland, Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, and parts of northern and western England and Wales. Wind gusts reaching as high as 70 miles per hour were anticipated, with some coastal areas and high hills potentially experiencing gusts up to 100 mph. Notably, a wind gust of 114 mph was recorded early Friday morning in Mace Head, County Galway, shattering a 1945 record.

In addition to strong winds, the storm brought heavy rainfall across northern Ireland and potential hail and snow in Scottish hills. With Britain’s Meteorological Office indicating “very dangerous conditions,” travel across the affected regions has been significantly disrupted. Northern Rail, a train service in England, advised against travel on Friday and Saturday due to the storm's impact.

Air traffic was also severely affected, with hundreds of flights grounded at various airports across Ireland and Britain. Belfast International Airport issued a warning urging travelers to stay home amid intermittent power outages. Passengers were advised to check flight statuses with their airlines.

The severe conditions are largely attributed to a powerful jet stream that intensified in the lead-up to the storm, allowing Eowyn to reach such extraordinary wind velocities. This powerful storm represents the most significant weather event to affect Ireland since 2017, when a catastrophic storm led to multiple fatalities in the region.