Storm Bram: Schools advised to keep pupils indoors, flights and ferries cancelled as motorists urged to drive 'with extra caution'
Schools have been urged to keep pupils indoors, flights to and from Belfast City Airport are cancelled and major tourist attractions closed as Storm Bram continues to batter Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
The disruption comes after a yellow warning for wind is in place for the entire province from 9am to 10pm.
However, that warning has since been upgraded to amber in counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone between 2pm and 7pm.
The Met Office advised the public to expect delays to transport services and further warned that cancellations were possible.
It added that there was a chance of injuries and danger to life from flying debris, as well as damage to buildings and power outages.
Forecasters said gusts of around 60-70 mph were possible in the amber region, and potentially in excess of 80mph over coasts and hills.
At 10.41am on Tuesday, the Education Authority (EA) said school closures were not planned but that leaders were asked to "monitor and assess the weather warnings in their areas and, if necessary, take local decisions."
However, just over an hour later, the EA advised schools to “keep pupils indoors throughout the day and, if practical, to cancel after school activities”, as well as being “flexible” on leaving times. It also asked parents to make “contingency plans” if transport services were cancelled.
Several schools have announced that they will be closing early due to the adverse weather conditions, including the likes of Cookstown High School, St Patrick’s Primary School in Belfast and Culmore Primary School in Londonderry.
Ulster University campuses in Londonderry and Coleraine decided to close from 1pm on Tuesday, with the Belfast campus staying open.
Meanwhile, the Causeway and Magherafelt campuses of Northern Regional College also closed at lunch-time on Tuesday.
The PSNI encouraged motorists to “reduce speed and drive with extra caution”, warning that heavy rain resulted in surface water and flooding of roads in many areas.
Currently, there is a road closure on the Belfast Road in Carrickfergus, from the Trooperslane Road up to the Sloefield Road, due to a collapsed wall. Trooperslane Road is also closed.
Also, road users are advised that the Shore Road in Rostrevor, the South Promenade in Newcastle and the Portaferry Road, Newtownards are all currently impassable due to flooding.
The Department of Infrastructure had already revealed on Monday that “multi-agency preparations” were under way and that monitoring of river levels and sea levels had been ongoing and would continue until the weather warning had elapsed.
It warned: “The power of water is often on show during a storm as waves crash against harbour walls, piers and cliffs. It looks spectacular but surges can easily sweep a person off their feet. All it takes is one wave to drag you out to sea – a dramatic photograph or selfie is not worth risking your life. If you are in trouble or see someone in difficulty at the coast, call 999 and ask for Coastguard.”
Storm Bram has created havoc at our airports with at least 10 flights from Belfast City Airport to Great Britain being cancelled on Tuesday, along with 11 inbound flights from Great Britain to Belfast City Airport.
In a statement, the airport had warned: “Due to adverse weather conditions expected across the UK on 9th December 2025, there may be disruption to flights to and from Belfast City Airport. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight and contact their airline directly for the latest updates.”
Meanwhile, Loganair have cancelled all flights to and from the City of Derry Airport.
Three Stena Line sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan have been cancelled on Tuesday, with the 23:30 service also still "in doubt."
Similarly, all P&O ferry sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled.
Those who had plans to go to the Christmas Market in Belfast on Tuesday were left disappointed after organisers announced on Monday that it would be closed – with hope that it will reopen on Wednesday.
Furthermore, a hosts of local councils have already communicated closures and amendments to some of its services.
The Irish League match between Crusaders and Cliftonville has also been postponed after an agreement was made between the two clubs.
Elsewhere, Met Éireann has placed the entire of the Republic of Ireland under a yellow warning for wind until 9pm.
But forecasting agencies upgraded their warnings to an orange for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford is in place until 4pm.
A separate orange warning for all of Connacht, as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, and Offaly was due to expire at 7pm.
And a third orange warning for Donegal was announced for between 2pm and 9pm.
Warnings are also in place for the rest of the UK.