Storm Dave: Bank holiday chaos as 17 flights cancelled at Dublin Airport, with diversions to Shannon, as 18,000 lose power

MORE than 18,000 homes and businesses across the country were without power tonight, as Storm Dave hit Ireland with strong winds and led to flights cancellations and travel disruption.

Easter revellers have been warned to travel with care as a nationwide Status Yellow wind warning is also in force until Sunday morning.

Around 17 fights to and from Dublin Airport have been cancelled, in addition to many holidaymakers seeing disruption of their flights, due to arrive back at Cork airport and instead being diverted to Shannon Airport.

A spokesman for the Daa said: "The stormy conditions resulted in 53 go arounds - or second landing attempts - and 13 diversions.

Strong winds were expected to continue to impact flight operations."

Airline passengers due to fly on Sunday were advised to contact their airlinesm or check the Daa website.

Status Yellow wind alert for Ireland as Storm Dave to bring challenging weather for Easter revellers

A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said that nine aircraft were diverted to Shannon Airport on Saturday afternoon.

Flights were diverted to Shannon from London Stansted, which was due to arrive in Cork Airport, as well as a flight to Dublin from Lanzarote.

Further passengers due to arrive in Cork from Amsterdam Schiphol arrived in Shannon, as did a flight from Reus Airport in Spain and from Palma de Mallorca Airport, all of which were Cork bound.

Flights from Alicante, Bristol, Barcelona and again from Stansted were diverted to Shannin,

In a statement, a spokesperson for the ESB said: "Approximately 18,000 homes, farms and businesses across the country were without power by 8pm [on Saturday].

They said that networks crews are mobilised in impacted areas and responding to power outages where safe to do so.

It urged the public to keep away from fallen wires or damaged electricity network, as they are live and extremely dangerous, and to report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1800 372 999.

Storm Dave has been fuelled by the jet stream - a current of very fast moving air that sits in the upper atmosphere and acts like a conveyor belt for low-pressure systems - that is currently strong due to contrasting temperatures from the frozen north and increasingly warm south.

However, such is the rapidly deepening Atlantic depression as Storm Dave approaches Ireland that the Yellow alert could be upgraded for counties along the north-west, with the strongest winds expected off Donegal and Northern Ireland.

The UK Met Office has issued a Yellow wind warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. Gardaí have urged people to exercise caution if travelling. Winds will be powerful enough to potentially bring down trees and generate storm debris.

Met Éireann's Gerry Murphy said the most powerful winds from Storm Dave are expected to be in Leitrim, northern Sligo and Donegal.

ESB Networks have repair crews on standby in case of power outages.

However, crews will only be able to undertake repairs to any grid damage when conditions are safe to do so. Mr Murphy said the major feature of Storm Dave will be powerful winds that could exceed 100kmh.

Met Éireann said high spring tides could amplify the storm impact

Winds could also reach over 120kmh off Northern Ireland and Scotland. The UK Met Office has also warned of potentially dangerous sea conditions with people being urged to stay away from forests, country parks, nature reserves and exposed coastal areas until the storm has passed.

Met Éireann said high spring tides could amplify the storm impact.

"Storm Dave will bring very windy and wet weather on Saturday. Southerly winds, veering south-westerly, will become very strong and gusty through the day," Mr Murphy said.

"The strong onshore winds, coinciding with high waves and high tides, will give a risk of wave overtopping and coastal flooding in some areas. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will move northwards on Saturday morning, with some falls of sleet or snow possible on hills in Ulster early on.

"Heavier and more persistent rain will spread eastwards across the country through the afternoon with spot-flooding possible.

"A clearance to scattered showers will follow later in the evening with highest temperatures of 9C to 13C.

"Saturday night will start off wet and windy. However, the rain will soon clear, followed by clear spells and scattered showers, some of which may fall as hail or sleet on higher ground."

Temperatures on Saturday night are set to fall between 0 and 4C, but they will increase as it becomes cloudier.

Easter Sunday will be a bright and breezy day, bringing a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells, with some showers falling as sleet or hail on higher ground early in the day.

The weather will feel crisp on Sunday, with temperatures between 7 and 10C.

Looking ahead, Met Éireann said the outlook for next week is for continued unsettled weather with rain, winds and very changeable conditions expected.

It will be windy and dry on Easter Monday, apart from patchy light rain and drizzle. The day will feel mild, with temperatures between 10 and 13C.