East coast hit by unseasonal storms of thunder, lightning and sleet

Several seasons were experienced in one day yesterday with persistent lightning storms, snow and flooding in the east and cool sunshine in the west.

An Aer Lingus plane was struck by lightning at Dublin Airport last night just before it was due to depart for London Heathrow. The Airbus was struck as passengers boarded it just before 8.30pm. They were evacuated, but after being examined by engineers the aircraft was given the all clear to take off.

There were chaotic scenes at the airport earlier yesterday when it closed due to the bad weather. Several flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers were stranded for hours.

Two hundred Aer Lingus passengers bound for Los Angeles were left sitting on an aircraft for five hours. An Aer Lingus spokeswoman said they were left there as the situation was constantly changing and it was hoped they might be airborne at any time. The passengers were given overnight accommodation and it was hoped they would be facilitated today.

The problems started at Dublin at 6.30 a.m. when the refuelling of about 25 aircraft had to be suspended because of a lightning storm. Sleet and hail storms closed the airport between 10.20 a.m. and 11.20 a.m. to allow for the high-speed clearing of the runway. The airport then closed for safety reasons from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Ryanair said there was "no justification whatsoever" for the closure. "This is just another example of the ineptitude of Aer Rianta," a Ryanair spokeswoman said.

More than 400 flights carrying 50,000 passengers were due to arrive and depart at Dublin Airport yesterday. The "vast majority" were affected by delays, according to Aer Rianta. Aer Lingus cancelled five of its seven flights to the US, saying that the industrial dispute by Aer Lingus cabin crew was partly to blame as the delayed flights would have arrived too late in the US to start the return leg before the strike began at midnight.

The east of the country bore the brunt of yesterday's wintry conditions with Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford worst affected.

Rainfall in Dublin in the 24 hours up to 6 p.m. yesterday equalled the total rainfall for the whole of August and September, according to Met Éireann.

Just over 50 mm of rain fell at Dublin airport in this 24-hour period, compared with 14 mm for the whole of August.

Signalling equipment for DART services between Pearse station and Dún Laoghaire were affected by lightning earlier yesterday. Delays of up to 30 minutes were experienced before 9 a.m. but services were back to normal by 11 a.m.

Met Éireann has forecast an improvement today. "The worst is probably over," said Mr Jerry Scully. "It will still be showery, but the showers will be scattered and it will be a lot drier."