Traffic paralysis, both road and air. Gales over Great Britain and Ireland

Storm Bram, with winds expected to reach 144 km/h, reached the shores of Ireland and Great Britain on Tuesday. 73 flights were canceled at Dublin Airport. Some ferry crossings in Scotland and Ireland have been suspended. Traffic was also closed on the bridge connecting England with Wales.

The Irish energy company ESB Networsk announced that 22,000 Houses, farms and companies have no electricity due to strong winds. Facilities in counties Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, Limerick and Kildare are particularly affected. The company anticipates further power outages throughout the day.

Schools along the coast in County Clare were closed due to the disaster, and in the rest of Ireland many schools shortened school hours to allow students to return home earlier.

Some flights were canceled from Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports. There were disruptions to railway traffic due to fallen trees on the tracks. The services reported the first flooding.

According to the Irish Meteorological Office, Met Eireann, the average wind speed at the entrance to Cork Harbor was 83 km/h, with wind gusts reaching 113 km/h. Forecasters predict that the wind will become stronger in the coming hours. “It will be very windy in the afternoon and evening and conditions could be dangerous in almost all areas,” said Gerry Murphy, senior meteorologist at Met Eireann, quoted by the Irish Independent.

Storm Gates also reached the Irish Sea coast and northwest of Scotland. There are a number of flood warnings in place across England and Wales, although many of them relate to coastal flooding caused by strong winds. In addition, a flood warning has been issued for the River Ouse, which flows directly through the center of York, a city in the north-east of England.

Railway traffic in Scotland and northern England was paralyzed due to strong gusts of wind. Several routes were suspended until the morning hours on Wednesday.

Due to the storm, the bridge connecting England and Wales over the River Severn was closed in both directions.

Scotland's main ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), canceled almost half of its routes on Tuesday. Irish Ferries and Stena Line have, among others, canceled ferries running between Dublin and Holyhead.

Warnings from the British Met Office about strong winds remain in force until late at night.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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