Storm Bram set to cause disruption in NI as flights cancelled

Weather warnings have been issued ahead of Storm Bram, which is forecast to affect the island of Ireland from late on Monday.

The deep Atlantic low-pressure system is expected to bring widespread rain northwards overnight into Tuesday, with winds strengthening as the storm moves in.

Wind speeds will increase through Tuesday morning, with gusts around 50mph (80km/h) becoming widespread by lunchtime, before strengthening further into the afternoon.

The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning covering all of Northern Ireland from 09:00 to 21:00 GMT on Tuesday.

It warns gusts between 50-60mph (80km/h-100km/h) are possible fairly widely, with potential speeds of around 70mph (115km/h) or more for some exposed headlands and higher ground.

The Met Office has also warned of possible stronger winds if the storm passes closer to Ireland than expected.

This could lead to transport delays, large waves around the coast, flying debris, damage to buildings, and a chance of power cuts.

Roads and river teams from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) have been checking and clearing road gullies, and other drainage infrastructure.

There are additional staff on standby to respond to incidents and temporary flood defences have been installed as part of a precautionary measure.

• Ards and North Down Borough Council has said that Bangor Castle Walled Garden will be closed including the Jingle Bell Trail

• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has announced that parks, open spaces, golf courses, caravan parks and outdoor facilities will be closed. Household recycling centres will remain open where possible, depending on the weather.

• Belfast City Council has announced that Victoria Park and the Belfast Christmas Market will be closed

• Derry City and Strabane District Council will close all open spaces including parks, play areas and other council-owned areas. Cemeteries will remain open for burials only.

• Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is set to close the household recycling centres, a number of parks and the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail.

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has announced that the Lisburn Light Trail will not open.

• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will close a number of parks including play parks and Bentra Golf Course.

• Mid Ulster District Council will close a few caravan parks, OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory and Pomeroy Forest Building.

• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has closed household recycling centres, forest and country parks including associated facilities, and Newcastle and Killough harbour

Ten flights from Belfast City Airport to Great Britain have been cancelled on Tuesday, along with 11 inbound flights from Great Britain to Belfast City Airport.

These are mainly Aer Lingus regional flights which are typically the propeller planes.

There are also several dozen flights cancelled between Dublin Airport and Great Britain on Tuesday.

The 11:30, 15:30 and 19:30 Stena Line sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan have been cancelled on Tuesday, and the 23:30 service is also "in doubt."

The 02:15 and 08:15 Stena Line sailings from Dublin to Holyhead have also been cancelled, along with the 04:00, 09:00 and 15:15 services from Holyhead to Dublin.

All P&O ferry sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled on Tuesday.

The strongest gusts are forecast along parts of the west coast in the Republic of Ireland, where the most severe warnings have been issued.

Irish weather service, Met Éireann, has issued a number of wind and rain warnings, highlighting a number of possible impacts - with particular concerns for coastal areas.

These include difficult driving conditions, localised flooding, large coastal waves, flying debris, and disruption to outdoor events.

"Flooding impacts are expected as the rain will fall on already saturated ground and many rivers are currently approaching bank full conditions" according to Met Éireann's Matthew Martin.

"We are in a period of high astronomical tides, which will coincide with the strong, potentially onshore winds, so coastal flooding is likely."

A yellow wind warning, covering the whole country, will come into force at 06:00 and remain in place until 21:00 (local time) on Tuesday.

This will be upgraded to orange - the second highest level - for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, and Wexford, from 07:00 until 15:00 on Tuesday.

An orange wind warning will also come into effect for Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Westmeath from 10:00 until 21:00.

A separate rain warning has been issued towards the south and south west of the country overnight on Monday and into Tuesday morning.

Storm Bram is the second named storm of the season and takes its name from Dracula author and Dublin native, Bram Stoker.

It follows Storm Amy in October, which caused widespread damage and disruption.

One man died in Donegal in what was described as a weather related incident.