JANUARY 2007

More storms forecast for Inishowen

The Met Service recorded gusts of 146kmh at Malin Head on New Year's Eve, and the windiest day of the year brought a blackout to the peninsula from around 4pm. on Sunday following a fault on the line between Letterkenny and Inishowen.

At one stage it was estimated that as many as 20,000 ESB customers across the country were left without power and ESB crews were kept busy throughout the first few days of the new year restoring power to homes across Donegal. With extra staff drafted in by the ESB, power was restored to most homes in Inishowen late on New Year's Eve however round 1,000 homes had to wait until the following day before they could be reconnected. An ESB spokesperson explained that most of the damage was caused by trees falling on power lines. Falling trees also caused problems for motorists on the peninsula making driving conditions extremely hazardous and while there were no serious injuries, a number of people had a lucky escape near Carndonagh when a tree fell on their car.

The heavy winds also caused structural damage to many buildings across the peninsula. However while Inishowen was hit hard by the storms, things were much worse in the west of the country where an estimated 14,000 household were left without electricity for between eight and twenty-four hours.

Although calmer weather has followed the fierce storms of New Year's Eve, Met Eireann has warned that stormy weather is set to return once again today, Wednesday 3rd January. Rain and strengthening winds were expected to spread from the west yesterday evening and after a spell of heavy rain, today is expected to remain very windy despise some sunshine and blustery showers in the afternoon.

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