Storm Callum brings high winds and choppy seas but warnings downgraded

Storm Callum weather warnings in Ireland have been downgraded, but severe conditions continue to cause havoc as they sweep across the country.

Gusts of 124km/h (77mph) were recorded at Belmullet in Co Mayo on Friday morning as the storm battered the west of Ireland.

Several flights were cancelled out of Dublin and Belfast due to the storm on Friday morning, but airports were otherwise operating as normal.

An orange warning had been in place for all coastal counties across the Republic and Met Eireann had earlier warned of potential risk to life and property.

Network operator ESB reported multiple faults, with counties Cork, Kerry and Donegal among the worst hit.

The operator issued a warning via Twitter for people to be careful if they come across any fallen trees and to be aware that there may also be downed power cables.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met in Dublin on Friday morning to review the storm’s impact and to co-ordinate any necessary response.

In a statement, the NECG said Storm Callum had made its way across the country as forecast by Met Eireann with the worst of the storm affecting the west coast.

“Fortunately it did not hit in all areas as hard as it could have, resulting in minimal disruption,” the statement said.

The group said that even though the worst of the storm had passed, people should still stay away from coastal areas for the duration of the orange warning.

They advised motorists not to drive through flooded areas and to anticipate strong cross-winds and other hazards such as falling or fallen trees.

In Galway, the local authority had put flood gates in place in Salthill and a 80-metre portable dam was installed at Spanish Arch.

The NECG was widely criticised for failing to implement a red warning alert during Storm Ali. Two people died in that storm last month.