Flights cancelled and power outages due to Storm Floris

People walking on the beach at Portstewart. Four people in the foreground in blue, black and green coats, with hoods up. There is a black vehicle behind them with a person in a light brown coat to the right. The sand is lifting due to the winds. There are buildings in the distance.Reuters

People were seeking shelter from the storm at Portstewart

Northern Ireland has been hit by strong winds as Storm Floris landed on Monday morning.

Several flights have been cancelled to and from Belfast City and Dublin Airports, and hundreds of properties lost power.

A weather warning for strong winds took effect from 06:00 BST and is in place until midnight.

In the Republic of Ireland, about 10,000 properties were left without power at one stage, but most have now been restored. About 2,700 homes, farms and businesses were without power as of 17:00 local time.

A person walks their dog during Storm Floris on the north coast of Northern Ireland, Portstewart.Reuters

The National Trust said strong winds had caused a build up of soft sand on Portstewart Strand

There are weather warnings in place across much of the UK, with amber warnings for most of Scotland.

The highest wind speeds recorded in Northern Ireland are:

  • Orlock Head in County Down, 65mph (105 km/h)

  • Eglinton and Magilligan, County Londonderry, 59mph (94km/h)

  • Ballypatrick in County Antrim, 56mph (90km/h)

A workman on pulley lifting cut trees on to a lorry. Other cut trees are lying on the road

Trees had to be cut down after one fell on to a house in north Belfast

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks said 539 properties were without power at about 18:00 BST, with two faults in Campsie, a village in County Londonderry, accounting for 270 of those.

By 21:45 the number of properties affected across Northern Ireland was down to 160.

Storm Floris is the first storm to hit Ireland and the UK since Storm Éowyn in January.

That storm sparked a rare red warning for Northern Ireland, and the first red warning for the whole island of Ireland.

A lifeguard erects a flag during Storm Floris on the north coast of Northern Ireland, PortstewartReuters

The National Trust advised against going into the water in Portstewart Strand

Flight cancellations

Several Aer Lingus flights have been cancelled between Belfast City Airport and Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Southampton and Manchester due to the storm.

Passengers are being asked to contact their airline directly for updates on the status of their flight.

Beaches

Waves along the Portstewart coast. Buildings and houses are in the distance.Paul J McFarland

Fast moving waves were seen along the north coast

The National Trust said Portstewart Strand had been red-flagged and advised visitors against going into the water.

They said strong winds had caused a build up of soft sand and advised against bringing a car on to the beach.

Martin. He is wearing a yellow fluorescent rain coat and sunglasses. The beach is in the background.

Martin Grosup from Switzerland is on holiday travelling around Ireland

Martin Grosup, who is on holiday from Switzerland, took in the storm wind on Downhill Beach on the north coast.

"We just wanted to see what's going on during the storm," he told BBC News NI.

He said he had been walking on the hilltops and it was "awesome to feel the power of nature and here to see the waves".

Shows a fallen tree with other trees in the background and an empty roadMarcus McCrystal

This tree came down in the bywash, near the Glen Road in Derry

Republic of Ireland

Emerald Airlines have cancelled six flights scheduled at Dublin Airport for Monday - both services to and from Donegal and the return service to Leeds Bradford.

Met Éireann, the Republic of Ireland's meteorological service, issued yellow wind and rain warnings for several counties including Donegal, Galway and Mayo, which have now ended.

It advised people of potentially dangerous travelling conditions, due to the possibility of heavy rain and fallen trees, on what is a bank holiday in the country.

Updates on outages can be found on the ESB Networks website.

What's closed because of Storm Floris?

A number of councils in Northern Ireland have closed outdoor spaces on Monday:

  • Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council has closed all parks, open spaces, forest parks, golf courses, caravan parks, and recycling centres

  • Derry City & Strabane District Council has closed all parks, open spaces and cemeteries except for scheduled burials. Brooke Park Leisure Centre and pitches will also be closed

  • Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has closed a number of facilities and outdoor areas, and advised people against using facilities like recycling centres

  • Mid Ulster District Council has closed all council forest and park sites

  • Newry, Mourne and Down council has closed all forests, country parks, and community trails, as well as all associated facilities and advised people not to visit play parks, beaches and other outdoor areas

  • Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has said some council parks and open spaces may close at short notice if deemed unsafe

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has also advised the public not to visit affected forests and parks on Monday and Tuesday until the high winds subside.

Some councils in Northern Ireland have also warned residents to collect their bins after they have been emptied to avoid damage to property.

What is a yellow weather warning?

Weather warnings are divided into three colours, yellow, amber and red - the latter being the most severe.

Yellow warnings suggest people should start planning for some impact on travel, power or property.

When confidence in the forecast or the level of expected disruption increases, it is upgraded to amber - severe weather that will have a medium impact.

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