HIT REFRESH TO UPDATE: A MASSIVE storm is hitting County Donegal tonight.
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6.38pm: Winds expected to increase again in south Donegal around 7.30pm.
6.30pm: John McAteer, editor of the Tirconail Tribune reports “There is severe flooding on all roads around Milford, Kerrykeel, Cranford, Fanad and Kilmacrennan. Proceed with extreme care and do not travel unless it is an emergency as winds are now increasing.”
6.16pm: Reader Marie Ferry in Falcarragh reports heavy rain there in the past few minutes.
6:14pm: Action plan at Letterkenny General Hospital to prevent repeat of flooding there last July. All systems reported working.
5.50pm: Major flooding has been reported on the main Letterkenny to Derry Road at Manorcunningham. Motorists are being advised to slow down and use extreme caution.
5.25pm: Winds are easing but will pick up again in the next hour. The storm warned of by Met Eireann hasn’t even started yet.
5.00pm: Possibility of snow later on. Donegal County Council will be gritting major routes from 9pm as a precaution. Getting very windy. Reader in Gaoth Dobhair says it is “extremely windy” there in past few minutes. The roof has been blown off the Kent Street Train Station in Cork. One person has been injured. A motorist has also been hurt in Co Westmeath. 15,000 homes are without power.
4.45pm. Power outages across the south, with trees down in Cork, Kilkenny and Waterford. Worst of the power outages in Galway and Mayo although there are also faults in Dublin. Torrential rain still falling in Donegal.
4pm: Heavy rain is now widespread across the county. This is leading to difficult driving conditions in many areas.
There is flooding on several roads including in and around Donegal Town, Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ramelton, Milford and Buncrana.
Garda patrols have been stepped up. Winds are currently gusting at 60 to 70km/hr.
Met Eireann says the worst of the storm will be after 6pm, the time when the Red Alert warning kicks in – with hurricane force wind gusts of up to 150km/hr.