About 6,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity for a time yesterday after high winds swept across the North.
The area worst affected was the north coast where gusts of up to 65 m.p.h. were recorded. From Cushendall in Co Antrim to Coleraine in Co Derry, fallen trees and flying debris added to high winds to bring down power cables and poles at various times of Thursday night and yesterday morning.
While the wind had mostly abated last night, there were predictions of snowfalls in a number of areas with low temperatures and icy conditions also said to be on the way. "With the cold temperatures certainly by day and especially overnight, that snow probably will be slow to lift, so that could well persist into the new year," said Mr Ian Fleming of the British Meteorological office.
Northern Ireland Electricity said only about 600 customers, in the Ballymena and Coleraine areas were still without power yesterday afternoon and it hoped to have power restored to all customers by yesterday evening.
A company spokeswoman said hundreds of extra engineers, call-handlers and administrative staff had been called in to help speed up the operation. Helicopters and four-wheel drive vehicles were also used in locating and repairing damaged power supplies.
The delay in restoring supplies was due to the isolated nature of the electricity network. "We've had dozens of faults that only actually affect two or three areas and that slows the process down," she said. The NIE spokeswoman said they expected the scenes of Christmas Day, when two to three inches of snow fell but with little wind, to be repeated. If this happened there should be no significant supply problems, she said.
Meanwhile, workers and students returning to Britain after Christmas as well as those travelling to Scotland for Hogmanay faced long waits at ferry terminals as all early Stena ferry and Seacat sailings to Scotland from Belfast were cancelled due to the high winds.
Services remained disrupted for most of the day as operators tried to clear the backlog of travellers at one of their busiest times of year on a first come first served basis.
On the roads, drivers of high-sided vehicles were also warned to take care in high winds. This warning was broadened yesterday to all drivers as temperatures fell.
There were no significant delays at either Belfast International or Belfast City Airport.