As Storm Eowyn swept across Ireland on Friday, it brought with it an unprecedented level of disruption, leaving approximately 715,000 customers without power—almost a third of the total utility's customer base. This overwhelming impact marked one of the highest numbers of outages ever recorded in the country.
The Irish Meteorological Service had anticipated the storm’s severity, forecasting strong and dangerous winds which affected not just Ireland but also parts of Scotland and northern England. Authorities warned that wind gusts could reach up to 70 miles per hour, with coastal areas experiencing gusts potentially surpassing 100 miles per hour. Indeed, Mace Head in County Galway saw a staggering gust of 114 miles per hour, breaking a record that stood since 1945.
Rainfall has also been a key player in the unfolding drama. Forecasters indicated local rainfall, longer-period showers, and even the possibility of hail or snow in the higher elevations of Scotland, thus exacerbating conditions throughout the affected regions.
The repercussions of Storm Eowyn extended into travel logistics as well—Northern Rail in England advised customers to refrain from traveling over the weekend due to severe storm-related disruptions. Additionally, hundreds of flights were canceled across airports in both Ireland and the UK. Belfast International Airport reported power outages and urged travelers to stay home and check flight statuses with airlines directly.
The storm’s intensification was fueled by a robust jet stream, a high-altitude current that influences global weather, which accelerated to 260 miles per hour, adding to the extreme conditions. Meteorologists indicated that Eowyn is one of the most powerful storms to strike Ireland since 2017, when a similar storm resulted in multiple fatalities.
As clean-up and recovery efforts begin for many, authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage and seek methods to restore power and safety to the affected regions.
