Severe weather from Storm Chandra has brought major disruption across Northern Ireland, forcing the closure of key roads including the M1 motorway, cutting power to thousands of homes and leading to the shutdown of more than 350 schools as heavy rain and gale-force winds batter the region.
The M1 is closed westbound between Junction 6 at Saintfield Road and Junction 8 at Blaris due to flooding, with police urging drivers to avoid the area. Dozens of other roads across Counties Armagh, Antrim and Down have also been closed because of fallen trees, surface water and storm-related collisions, causing widespread travel disruption during the morning rush hour.
Met Office warnings in force
The Met Office has issued yellow rain warnings for Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, alongside an amber wind warning in place until 21:00 GMT. Forecasters say wind gusts of up to 81mph have already been recorded on the Ards Peninsula, with further heavy rainfall expected, raising the risk of river and surface-water flooding. An ice warning will also come into force overnight as temperatures drop following the storm.
Power outages and emergency response
Northern Ireland Electricity said around 3,800 properties remain without power, down from a peak of 10,000 earlier in the day, as engineers work to repair storm damage. Emergency services have responded to multiple incidents, including a woman taken to hospital after a tree fell onto a car in Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh. Her injuries are not believed to be serious.
Public transport and airports affected
Rail and bus services are facing delays and cancellations, with Lanyon Place station in Belfast closed and disruption on the Belfast–Coleraine line due to flooding and debris. The Enterprise service to Dublin is operating only as far as Newry, with bus replacements beyond. All flights at Belfast City Airport were cancelled earlier in the day, while Belfast International Airport warned of ongoing delays due to strong winds.
Schools and public services closed
More than 350 schools and colleges, including all Belfast Met and several Ulster University campuses, have closed as a precaution. Health trusts have also suspended some day services, citing unsafe travel conditions for vulnerable patients and staff.
Storm Chandra has also caused significant disruption in the Republic of Ireland, with around 30,000 properties without power and multiple flooding incidents reported in Dublin and surrounding counties. Ferry sailings between Dublin and Holyhead have been cancelled, and Dublin Airport has warned of delays.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from forests and coastal areas, and continue to monitor weather updates as further heavy rain, strong winds and wintry conditions are forecast in the coming days.