Power restored for the majority of consumers following Storm Floris
Storm Floris, which made landfall on August 4, 2025, has caused significant disruption across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The storm brought intense rainfall and unusually strong winds for August, with gusts reaching over 80 mph in some areas[1][4].
The main issue with this storm is its timing, occurring during a weekend and tourist season. The storm caused issues at campsites and festivals, leaving many holidaymakers and festival-goers affected[2].
Emergency workers are facing challenges accessing affected areas due to fallen trees and persistent adverse weather conditions. As a result, some roads have been blocked, and localized flooding has been reported[1].
The storm caused significant disruption to transport and electricity networks. Flight operations continued as normal at Dublin Airport, but Emerald Airlines cancelled six flights, and several flights were cancelled in Northern Ireland[1]. A small number of homes in Northern Ireland were without power, but power has been restored to 9,730 homes and businesses impacted by Storm Floris[3]. As of this morning, approximately 270 customers are still without power[1].
Cleanup efforts have been focused on clearing fallen trees and debris to restore transport routes and access, repairing damaged electricity poles to recover power supply, and managing drainage blockages to reduce flooding risks[1]. Authorities expect ongoing disruptions as they continue recovery operations, complicated by the seasonally high leaf coverage on trees[1].
The storm is associated with an "explosive cyclogenesis" event or weather bomb, which is a rapid intensification of a low-pressure system[1]. Senior Forecaster with Met Éireann, Gerry Murphy, described the storm as being "basically what was expected within a Yellow level warning range"[1].
No official reports indicate full restoration of services yet, and local advisories urge caution as cleanup progresses. The combination of wind and rainfall during the storm has led to infrastructure impacts typical of severe summer windstorms, with emergency services actively engaged in mitigation[1].
In summary, the aftermath of Storm Floris involves significant transport disruptions, power outages, and flood risks due to storm-damaged trees and debris, with cleanup and recovery efforts still underway in Ireland and Northern Ireland[1][2][4]. Most local authorities have reported minimal effects from the storm so far.
[1] Met Éireann (2025). Storm Floris Update. [Online]. Available: https://www.met.ie/weather/warnings-and-advisories/storm-floris
[2] BBC News (2025). Storm Floris: Thousands without power as winds batter UK and Ireland. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58206656
[3] Northern Ireland Electricity (2025). Storm Floris Update. [Online]. Available: https://www.ni-electricity.co.uk/news/storm-floris-update
[4] Met Office (2025). Storm Floris: Strong winds and heavy rain to batter UK and Ireland. [Online]. Available: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings/storm-floris
The disruption caused by Storm Floris extends beyond the high winds and heavy rain, impacting campsites and festivals during the tourist season. The ongoing cleanup and recovery operations pose challenges for emergency workers due to persistent adverse weather conditions.
