NORTH: Electricity workers were last night reconnecting the last of the estimated 3,300 customers who lost supplies due to the storms which lashed the north and northwest yesterday.
Storm force winds from the south-west with gusts over 70 m.p.h. buffeted northern counties for the second time in a week as the latest in a series of Atlantic depressions swept across the North. The worst affected areas were in north Co Derry although disruption and damage was also caused along the coasts of Cos Antrim and Down.
A spokesman for Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) said the majority of power cuts were due to fallen lines in rural areas and could be repaired relatively easily.
Mr Robin Greer said that raising power lines on poles to serve rural parts was the best way of serving local communities even though they were susceptible to storm damage.
NIE had a helicopter on stand-by to monitor storm damage and initiate repair work when needed.
Mr Greer added: "Most customers who have been restored have been restored within two hours. Hopefully that will be the pattern for the rest of the day and anyone without supply won't be off for too long."
Magilligan on the shores of Lough Foyle in Co Derry suffered the severest gusts. In Co Down road traffic was affected on the shores of Carlingford Lough between Rostrevor and Warrenpoint.
Ferry services on the north Irish Sea were disrupted and services operated by Stena Line and Seacat were cancelled for a second day this week.
The Met Office is forecasting continuing unsettled weather with the possibility of high winds over the weekend.