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As it happenedended

Storm Callum: Thousands in Ireland without power as heavy winds hit Scotland

Teams scrambling to restore power to 10,000 properties in Ireland 

Zamira Rahim
Friday 12 October 2018 03:10 EDT
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Waves crash against harbour walls as Storm Callum hits Ireland

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Storm Callum swept across Ireland on Friday leaving thousands of homes and businesses without electricity.

More than 60,000 properties in the country were left without power at one point in the early hours.

ESB Networks, the operator, said that teams were working to restore power to the last 10,000 homes and businesses by Friday evening.

Around 1,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland also lost power.

The storm also brought heavy rain and strong winds to Scotland and parts of England.

Heavy rain caused secondary landslips in Argyll and Bute, where 300 tonnes of debris fell on to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

The key road will remain closed for the weekend and motorists will be forced to take diversions of nearly 60 miles due to the closure.

"The landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful this week have been some of the most challenging in recent memory both for the community and for the teams working in difficult conditions," said Michael Matheson. the Scottish Transport Secretary.

Flights were cancelled throughout Friday from Dublin, Belfast and Exeter airports.

Yellow Met Office warnings for Scotland remain in place for wind and rain in the Highlands and Islands and Strathclyde areas throughout Friday.

"The wind gusts will approach 40-50 mph across western parts of Scotland, Wales, western England and Northern Ireland," said Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern.

"Accompanying high tides will be big waves and we could see coastal impacts from those and inland impacts from those strong winds as well."

"Later in the day as the deep low approaches north-west Scotland there is the risk of 70 mph gusts for exposed parts."

"The rain is also of concern with a lot of it to come through 36 hours over Friday and Saturday, especially for western parts of England, south-west Scotland and Wales."

If you want to read how Storm Callum progressed across the UK live, please see what was our live coverage below.

10,000 properties in Ireland are still without power. ESB Networks says that its staff are working to restore electricity to "the vast majority of remaining homes, farms and businesses" by tonight.

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:11

High winds and enormous waves hit Cawsand in Cornwall earlier today:

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:16

Natural Resources Wales has now issued 25 flood alerts and three flood warnings across south Wales

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:24

Storm Callum has damaged power networks in approximately 300 individual locations across Ireland. 

"There is extensive damage with low hanging and fallen lines nationwide," ESB Networks said in a statement. 

"We are particularly appealing to farmers and landowners to be vigilant as fallen trees or branches may have fallen on or be leaning against electricity wires."

"Please do not approach or touch the wires, trees or branches, as they are extremely dangerous."

Members of the public are urged to immediately report any fallen lines to the company. 

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:31

Severe weather will affect rail services in Scotland until 7 pm, National Rail have said.

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:43

The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll, a key road in Scotland, will remain closed through the weekend due to 300 tonnes of new debris falling in the area after multiple landslips.

matt.payton112 October 2018 14:49

Devon County Council is advising drivers to keep to main roads, due to a high number of fallen trees on minor ones. 

matt.payton112 October 2018 15:01

Michael Matheson, the Scottish Transport Secretary, has called landslides at a main road during Storm Callum "the most challenging in recent memory".

Motorists were forced to take diversions of almost 60 miles after 300 tonnes of debris fell from a hillside on to the A83 in Argyll and Bute on Friday, as heavy rains continued. 

matt.payton112 October 2018 15:23

Arriva Trains Wales has said that heavy rain caused flooding across a number of railway lines in the country. 

matt.payton112 October 2018 15:36

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) has said that the worst of Storm Callum hit the west coast of Ireland but that it fortunately "did not hit in all areas as hard as it could have, resulting in minimal disruption." 

The NECG has stood down and Ireland's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management will monitor the aftermath of the storm. 

matt.payton112 October 2018 15:50

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