Damage assessments are ongoing after record-breaking winds of 183 km/h.
Nearly one million homes and businesses across Ireland were left without power on Friday as a result of Storm Éowyn, a deep low-pressure system that also impacted parts of Scotland with hurricane-force winds. Schools were closed, train and ferry services were suspended, and more than 1,000 flights were canceled across Ireland and the UK. At least one fatality has been reported, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ and the AP.
Meteorologists issued a rare red alert for all of Ireland and central and southwestern Scotland, warning of life-threatening conditions. As winds subsided, the red alert and lower-level orange and yellow warnings were lifted.
Authorities are still assessing the damage caused by the storm, which brought record-breaking wind gusts of 183 km/h, with coastal areas experiencing speeds exceeding 130 km/h.
In County Donegal, northwest Ireland, a man lost his life when a falling tree struck his car, according to local police.
Electricity provider ESB Networks reported that approximately 625,000 of its customers remain without power, while in Northern Ireland, around 240,000 homes and businesses were affected by outages. An ESB representative told RTÉ that the storm inflicted unprecedented damage to the power grid, with restoration efforts in the hardest-hit areas expected to take more than a week.
Water utility company Uisce Éireann reported that over 120,000 people are without water supply due to wastewater treatment plants losing power.
Telecommunications provider Eir stated that 160,000 homes and businesses are currently without internet service.
Following the passage of Storm Éowyn, colder air is moving into Ireland, with nighttime temperatures expected to drop to -2°C in some areas. Central regions, where temperatures were 12°C the previous night, will experience the sharpest declines, accompanied by rain and snowfall in certain areas.
Storm Éowyn developed through a meteorological process known as explosive cyclogenesis, which occurs when atmospheric pressure within a cyclone drops by 24 millibars within 24 hours. Winds over the ocean encounter less resistance compared to land, allowing them to reach extreme speeds.
