ESB Networks issues important warning to customers ahead of Storm Darragh hitting Ireland

Ahead of Storm Darragh's arrival to Ireland on Friday night, ESB Networks has warned customers to expect power outages and to prepare accordingly.

Met Éireann has forecast that Storm Darragh will bring extremely strong and gusty winds from 9pm tonight, Friday, with seven counties placed under a Status Red wind warning with damage to electricity infrastructure anticipated. 

Status Orange or Yellow wind warnings will also see potentially damaging gusts across all of the country until Saturday afternoon so power outages can be expected.

Throughout the day, ESB Networks crews and partner contractors around the country have been making the necessary preparations in advance of the high winds, with teams mobilised. 

“We continually monitor the forecasts and real time events on the electricity network and will deploy our crews to restore supply when it is safe to do so,” a spokesperson said. 

“ESB Networks crews will mobilise from early morning to assess the full damage of Storm Darragh, making the network safe and restoring electricity supply – and switching customers back remotely where possible.

“We will update power estimated restoration times as soon as we have assessed the network, and these will be available to view on www.PowerCheck.ie.

“On a precautionary basis, ESB Networks would like to ask our customers to consider preparations in the event of losing their electricty supply if their area is affected by Storm Darragh. This could include torches, spare batteries, having phones charged etc.”

Storm Darragh is expected to bring travel disruption and dangerous travelling conditions, fallen trees and displaced objects, and power outages can be expected, as well as dangerous conditions at sea and waves overtopping in some coastal areas as Ireland prepares for what is shaping up to be the worst storm of the winter so far.