Storm Ashley causes serious disruption to Northern Ireland, cutting off power, cancelling ferry sailings and flights and closing roads
Storm Ashley caused serious disruption to Northern Ireland today, cutting off power for thousands and cancelling ferry sailings and flight.
Authorities also flagged up a number of roads blocked by fallen trees.
The PSNI warned road users to prepare for potential traffic disruption and urged people not to travel unless necessary.
A yellow weather warning from the Met Office said Northern Ireland was liable to suffer winds of up to 70mph from 3am to midnight on Sunday.
A subsequent amber warning was given from 1pm until 8pm and for Counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone.
Belfast City Airport showed at least 11 flights connecting with other UK airports had been cancelled on Sunday afternoon and evening.
At least three sailings of Stena line ferries from Belfast to Cairnryan were also cancelled.
NIE Networks said that at 5.30pm approximately 4,000 customers were without power. It said power had been restored to around 2,000 customers who had lost supply.
Four forest and country parks in Newry Mourne and Down were closed for public safety – Castlewellan, Delamont, Kilbroney and Slieve Gullion.
The Enniskillen Road area, Irvinestown - known locally as Mossfield Straight - was closed due to a fallen tree resting on electrical cables.
The Portaferry Road one mile south of Ards and Shore Road near Killyleagh in Co Down were both closed due to flooding.
The Damolly Road in Newry was closed due to a fallen tree and in Londonderry the Foyle Bridge was closed to High Sided Vehicles due to high winds.
Temporary tidal flood defences were deployed as a preventative measure along sections of the River Lagan in Belfast.
The PSNI advised road users to exercise extra caution, to consider if journeys were really necessary and to take extra care if travelling.
Ferry operator CalMac – which serves the west coast of Scotland – cancelled the majority of sailings for the day, with the islands of Arran, Bute, Lewis and Harris being cut off as a result of adverse conditions at sea caused by the high winds.
In the Republic of Ireland, The Press Association reported that ESB Networks said 53,000 customers were without power shortly after 5pm on Sunday.
Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Dublin were the worst affected counties.