Summary

  • Storm Debi brought heavy rain and strong winds to the island of Ireland

  • A number of weather warnings were in place in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

  • Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were without power in the Republic

  • The storm came as many towns and cities in Northern Ireland were still recovering from recent flooding

  1. That's it from us....published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Cars hit by waves off the Portaferry RoadImage source, Jonathan Hanna

    As the worst of Storm Debi passes, we'll say goodbye for now.

    The storm has caused major disruption across areas of Northern Ireland, from landslides to fallen trees to flooding, making driving conditions difficult.

    There were road closures and disruption to public transport in parts of the region.

    An earlier amber warning has now been lifted by the Met Office.

    A yellow alert for heavy rain and wind for all of Northern Ireland will end at 14:00 GMT.

    You can, of course, stay up to date with all the latest news on the BBC News NI website.

    From all of us, stay safe.

  2. 70,000 without power in the Republic of Irelandpublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    ESB Networks say that about 70,000 homes and businesses remain without power in the Republic of Ireland.

    The most affected counties are Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Louth.

    At 07:45 local time, approximately 100,000 customers were without electricity.

    ESB say crews hope to restore power to the majority of customers throughout Monday.

    However, due to the scale of damage to the electricity network, some customers will remain without supply overnight.

  3. Fallen trees being cleared from rail linespublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Tree on train tracksImage source, Translink

    Translink says crews have been braving the wind and rain to clear fallen debris from train lines.

    Crews were called earlier today to deal with a fallen tree on the Bangor Line, close to Cultra station, in Holywood.

  4. Work under way to clear landslidepublished at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Grainne Connolly
    BBC News NI

    The Coast Road between Ballygalley and Glenarm in County Antrim remains closed as workers try to clear the landslide brought on by the strength of Storm Debi.

    Media caption,

    Antrim coast road closed due to landslide

  5. Irish postal worker struck by containerpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    The Irish postal service, An Post, has confirmed a female postal worker was struck by a container in County Limerick this morning.

    The incident happened at the Newcastle West Delivery Service Unit after a "powerful gust of wind dislodged a container".

    A spokesperson for An Post said the woman was assessed by an ambulance crew at the scene and is now resting at home.

  6. High levels of rainfall due to Storm Debipublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Barra Best
    BBC News NI weather presenter

    Ballypatrick Forest in County Antrim and Banagher Caugh Hill in County Derry have recorded a fifth of their average November rainfall in 18 hours.

    29.4mm were recorded at Banagher Caugh Hill between 18:00 GMT on Sunday until 12:00 on Monday.

    The average rainfall there for November is 151mm.

    Ballypatrick Forest had 27mm of rain in the same period.

    Its monthly average for November is 150mm.

    Cars driving through flooded water in CookstownImage source, PA Media

    Recorded rainfall totals from from 18:00 GMT Sunday - 12:00 Monday:

    29.4mm at Banagher Caugh Hill

    27.0mm at Ballypatrick Forest

    26.2mm at Magilligan

    24.6mm at Lough Fea

    22.2mm at Glenanne

    22.2mm at Murlough

    21.6mm at Stormont Castle

    21.0mm at Altnahinch Filters

    20.8mm at Portglenone

    20.6mm at Killowen

    19.8mm at Derrylin

    18.0mm at Thomastown

    17.6mm at Castlederg

  7. About 2,000 without power in NIpublished at 12:53 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    NIE says about 2,000 customers are now without power due to the high winds and adverse weather brought by Storm Debi.

    These power cuts are mainly in the areas of Craigavon, Newry and Downpatrick.

    NIE said its teams are working to restore power.

    They have reminded customers to report the faults online at www.nienetworks.co.uk, external or call the NIE Networks Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643.

  8. Irish flooding support extends to Galwaypublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    An Irish government support scheme for residents affected by flooding has been extended to County Galway after Monday's storm.

    Ireland's Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys says the humanitarian assistance scheme will be applied to other areas as required.

    "I'm very conscious of the serious disruption that severe weather and flooding is causing for individuals and families in County Galway, especially in Oranmore and parts of Galway city," she says.

  9. Landslide closes road in Glenarmpublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Grainne Connolly
    BBC News NI

    Landslide in Glenarm

    The Coast Road between Ballygalley and Glenarm in County Antrim has been closed due to a landslide.

    This is the second time in a month that the road has been closed due to a landslide.

    Landslide in Glenarm

    Diversions are currently in place via the Dickeystown Road and police officers are in the area directing traffic.

  10. Warning from Meath firefighterspublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    A car in a treeImage source, Meath County Council Fire & Rescue Service

    There have been reports of fallen trees across the island.

    Meath County Council Fire and Rescue Service say they've attended a number of incidents this morning with vehicles and fallen trees - but no injuries have been reported.

    Meanwhile, emergency crews in Cavan have been busy, with nine out of 10 fire brigades out at calls at one time.

  11. From Desmond to Debipublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Barra Best
    BBC News NI weather presenter

    A recovery truckImage source, Pacemaker

    This is the earliest in the season that a storm beginning with D has been named since storms started to be given names in 2015.

    The season runs from 1 September to 31 August.

    Previous dates for storms beginning with D being named:

    2015-16 4 December Desmond

    2016-17 21 February Doris

    2017-18 29 December Dylan

    2018-19 14 December Deirdre

    2019-20 11 February Dennis

    2020-21 5 February Darcy

    2021-22 14 February Dudley

    2022-23 no storm D

    2023-24 12 November Debi

  12. Three inbound flights diverted from Dublin Airportpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Dublin AirportImage source, Dublin Airport

    As of 11:00, three inbound flights have been diverted from Dublin Airport, with some minor delays to outbound flights.

    The airport also says passengers should continue to contact their airline directly for updates regarding specific flights.

  13. Quoile Bridge closed near Downpatrickpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    The A22 Killyleagh Road Downpatrick has been closed at Quoile Bridge, according to the local council.

    BBC News NI's Michael Fitzpatrick says the old stone bridge is about two miles from the centre of Downpatrick.

    He was told a diversion could add about one mile to the journey from Killyleagh.

    Quoile Bridge
  14. Cars underwater in Galway city centrepublished at 11:34 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Media caption,

    Cars underwater in Galway city centre

    Enda Cunningham, the editor of Galway City Tribune, said that while Galway city was calm by late Monday morning, the clean-up would be extensive.

    “There are 30 cars at Seapoint car park and Salthill car park and they’re destroyed,” he said.

    “I have never heard the wind that woke me at 4.20 this morning – and I’ve lost count of how many storms I have covered.”

    Footage courtesy of Enda Cunningham.

  15. Flood water 'knee-high' in areas of Coalislandpublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    CoalislandImage source, Malachy Quinn

    SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn says there is bad flooding in parts of Country Tyrone.

    Mr Quinn advises motorists to avoid Kings Row and Derry Road in Coalisland for the time being.

    He says that he saw one woman wade through knee-high water with a small child above her head to get them on a bus.

    The roads have been reported to the DfI and staff are on site, he says.

    CoalislandImage source, Malachy Quinn
  16. Heavy flooding in Salthillpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Parts of Salthill, County Galway, were flooded on Monday morning.

    RTÉ cameraman Enda O'Byrne took this photo in the early hours showing homes affected by the rising water.

    SalthillImage source, RTE

    Galway, in the west of Ireland, was hit hard overnight and its chief fire officer says officers were busy.

    Gerry O'Malley tells RTÉ Irish fire service attended 10 incidents and rescued eight people in Oranmore, Craughwell, Clarinbridge and Ballinasloe.

    He says three people were in vehicles that were flooded, three people were rescued from premises - two were at home and one was at a business premises.

  17. Flooded roads in Belfastpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Upper knockbreda road

    The Knock carriageway on the outer ring is still open but there's some slow-moving traffic due to water on the road.

    There's flooding on parts of the carriageway at the junction with Cregagh Road - the Upper Knockbreda Road.

    On Belvoir Road there’s a lot of water lying and cars are having to really slow down to get through it.

    The Shore Road is closed in both directions between Mill Road and Longwood Road due to the threat of a retaining wall collapsing, according to TrafficWatchNI., external

    Belvoir road
  18. Amber warning cancelledpublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023
    Breaking

    An amber wind warning for the south-east of Northern Ireland has now been cancelled by the Met Office.

    A yellow warning affecting all counties remains in place until 14:00 GMT.

    car goes through floodsImage source, Pacemaker
  19. What's the situation right now?published at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    Flooding has led to the closure of part of Creggan Road in Derry.
    Image caption,

    Flooding has led to the closure of part of Creggan Road in Derry

    Thanks for staying with us for our coverage of Storm Debi.

    We will continue to bring you all the latest on weather warnings, traffic disruption and what is happening in your area.

    At the minute here's how things are looking.

    • An amber wind warning has been issued for parts of counties Down and Armagh, with a yellow alert for heavy rain and wind in place for all of Northern Ireland
    • There were red warnings in place in the Republic of Ireland but they were lifted by 09:00 GMT
    • NIE Networks says about 3,000 customers were without power, mainly around Craigavon, Newry and Downpatrick
    • In the Republic of Ireland there are 100,000 without electricity supply and power company ESB tells RTÉ's Morning Ireland they will be working late into the night to get the majority of customers back
    • Some roads are impassable and for an up to date list of what roads are closed check out the NI Traffic, external Watch website
    • There's been a landslide in Glenarm in County Antrim and crews are working to clear it, but in the meantime please seek an alternative route
    • It will turn drier and brighter this afternoon with the chance of some brightness for a few hours before dusk, according to our weather presenter Geoff Maskell
  20. 'Iconic' tree in Garrison fallspublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November 2023

    tree in GarrisonImage source, Camlake Canvas

    This 'iconic' tree - well known to locals in the village of Garrison in County Fermanagh - has fallen.

    Local businesswoman Michelle Duffy from Camlake Canvas said she was "heartbroken".

    "This place was special beyond measure, it’s been my go to place for so long," she added.

    The tree before it fell
    Image caption,

    The tree before it fell