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| Storm Amy: Closures and disruption across Northern Ireland | Storm Amy: Closures and disruption across Northern Ireland |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A lorry driver had a lucky escape after a tree fell on the road in Dunadry, County Antrim | |
| Flights and trains have been cancelled and a number of roads are closed as Storm Amy brings disruption to the island of Ireland and Scotland. | Flights and trains have been cancelled and a number of roads are closed as Storm Amy brings disruption to the island of Ireland and Scotland. |
| The Met Office has issued weather warnings for wind and rain and police have warned of surface water on the roads. | The Met Office has issued weather warnings for wind and rain and police have warned of surface water on the roads. |
| Translink have confirmed all trains lines in Northern Ireland have closed, while Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport have advised passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline. | |
| An amber warning for wind is in place on Friday from 15:00 until 20:00 BST across the western parts of Northern Ireland and later in Scotland, with gusts of 60-70mph expected inland and up to 80mph along exposed coasts. | An amber warning for wind is in place on Friday from 15:00 until 20:00 BST across the western parts of Northern Ireland and later in Scotland, with gusts of 60-70mph expected inland and up to 80mph along exposed coasts. |
| The Belfast International Airport has confirmed that two Aer Lingus flights from City Airport and one Ryanair flight from Alicante has been diverted to Manchester and one other Ryanair flight is due to land to Birmingham. | |
| Pedestrians had to contend with difficult driving conditions near Belfast | |
| A yellow wind warning for all of Northern Ireland has been issued, lasting from 14:00 on Friday until 23:59 on Saturday. | A yellow wind warning for all of Northern Ireland has been issued, lasting from 14:00 on Friday until 23:59 on Saturday. |
| A further yellow weather warning for rain has been issued across all of Northern Ireland, lasting until 12:00 on Saturday. | A further yellow weather warning for rain has been issued across all of Northern Ireland, lasting until 12:00 on Saturday. |
| The amber warning for high winds covers large parts of north and north western Scotland from 17:00 to 21:00 on Saturday. | The amber warning for high winds covers large parts of north and north western Scotland from 17:00 to 21:00 on Saturday. |
| A number of ScotRail and ferry services have been cancelled and some bridges will be closed to high sided vehicles. | A number of ScotRail and ferry services have been cancelled and some bridges will be closed to high sided vehicles. |
| There are a number of road closures across Northern Ireland, police have said: | There are a number of road closures across Northern Ireland, police have said: |
| The M1 west-bound is currently closed from junction 12 to junction 14, due to multiple fallen trees. The on-slip at junction 12 is also blocked by a fallen tree, road users have been advised to exit the motorway before junction 12 if possible | The M1 west-bound is currently closed from junction 12 to junction 14, due to multiple fallen trees. The on-slip at junction 12 is also blocked by a fallen tree, road users have been advised to exit the motorway before junction 12 if possible |
| The M22 northbound at junction two in Ballygrooby is closed due to a fallen tree | The M22 northbound at junction two in Ballygrooby is closed due to a fallen tree |
| The Creighton Road, Dunmurry, is currently closed in both directions due to a fallen tree | |
| The A2 Belfast - Bangor Road, after Holywood Exchange overbridge, is obstructed by two trees over the full width of the road | |
| The Foyle Bridge in Londonderry is also closed due to high winds | The Foyle Bridge in Londonderry is also closed due to high winds |
| The M1 Tamnamore Jct 14 is closed in both directions due to fallen trees | The M1 Tamnamore Jct 14 is closed in both directions due to fallen trees |
| On Friday morning, the Education Authority (EA) in Northern Ireland told schools in counties Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh to close at midday "in the interests of safety". | On Friday morning, the Education Authority (EA) in Northern Ireland told schools in counties Antrim, Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh to close at midday "in the interests of safety". |
| Following the school closures, the EA thanked people for their "support and cooperation". | Following the school closures, the EA thanked people for their "support and cooperation". |
| "We regret the disruption that was caused, but would again emphasise that safety will always be our overriding priority," the authority said in a statement. | "We regret the disruption that was caused, but would again emphasise that safety will always be our overriding priority," the authority said in a statement. |
| "We very much appreciate that today has been a very challenging day for schools, pupils, and families, as well as for Translink and our own staff". | "We very much appreciate that today has been a very challenging day for schools, pupils, and families, as well as for Translink and our own staff". |
| They added that they expect the vast majority of all schools to open as normal on Monday, but some disruption may potentially be caused. | They added that they expect the vast majority of all schools to open as normal on Monday, but some disruption may potentially be caused. |
| "Some school meal menu options may also be impacted if supplies are affected," they said. | "Some school meal menu options may also be impacted if supplies are affected," they said. |
| Two amber warnings have been issued for strong winds, which is the second highest level of alert. The alert for parts of Northern Ireland comes into force at 15:00 and 17:00 for parts of Scotland | Two amber warnings have been issued for strong winds, which is the second highest level of alert. The alert for parts of Northern Ireland comes into force at 15:00 and 17:00 for parts of Scotland |
| The yellow warning for wind is set to continue into early Saturday afternoon - and a separate yellow warning for rain has been issued from 11:00 until 17:00 on Friday. | The yellow warning for wind is set to continue into early Saturday afternoon - and a separate yellow warning for rain has been issued from 11:00 until 17:00 on Friday. |
| The strong winds expected on Friday could bring down trees and cause large waves in coastal areas. | The strong winds expected on Friday could bring down trees and cause large waves in coastal areas. |
| A yellow rain warning is also in place across Northern Ireland. | A yellow rain warning is also in place across Northern Ireland. |
| 'Everyone loves an early Friday' | 'Everyone loves an early Friday' |
| A-Level student Patrick was in his ICT lesson when he received the "unexpected news" | A-Level student Patrick was in his ICT lesson when he received the "unexpected news" |
| At midday at Mercy College in north Belfast, corridors and classrooms were empty as students made their way home following the EA's announcement about closures. | At midday at Mercy College in north Belfast, corridors and classrooms were empty as students made their way home following the EA's announcement about closures. |
| A-Level student Patrick was in his ICT lesson when he received the "unexpected news". | A-Level student Patrick was in his ICT lesson when he received the "unexpected news". |
| While he said the closure was "unfortunate" given upcoming exams and coursework, a half-day does come as a small relief. | While he said the closure was "unfortunate" given upcoming exams and coursework, a half-day does come as a small relief. |
| "It is a wee bit of a blessing," he told BBC News NI. | "It is a wee bit of a blessing," he told BBC News NI. |
| "Everyone loves a wee early Friday." | "Everyone loves a wee early Friday." |
| The early closure means Rachel can't avail of school resources | The early closure means Rachel can't avail of school resources |
| Rachel's parents are both working, and with the "unexpected" closure, she was left figuring out a way back home and to work later on Friday. | Rachel's parents are both working, and with the "unexpected" closure, she was left figuring out a way back home and to work later on Friday. |
| "I didn't even bring a coat with me," she said. | "I didn't even bring a coat with me," she said. |
| While her Fridays are normally spent studying, the closure will prevent her from getting work done. | While her Fridays are normally spent studying, the closure will prevent her from getting work done. |
| "Being in school's good for me because I'm able to use the computers whereas at home I don't have one," she added. | "Being in school's good for me because I'm able to use the computers whereas at home I don't have one," she added. |
| "It's good and beneficial for me to be here so leaving's just a bit unfortunate." | "It's good and beneficial for me to be here so leaving's just a bit unfortunate." |
| It's been a busy morning at Mercy College, Principal Martin Moreland says | It's been a busy morning at Mercy College, Principal Martin Moreland says |
| Principal Martin Moreland said making the decision to close the school at any time can be difficult as "there's enough barriers" in front of young people trying to access education, but the EA's directive was "well received". | Principal Martin Moreland said making the decision to close the school at any time can be difficult as "there's enough barriers" in front of young people trying to access education, but the EA's directive was "well received". |
| "When there's a collective decision made across the board it allows everybody to make that move together in the best interests of children and their safety," he said. | "When there's a collective decision made across the board it allows everybody to make that move together in the best interests of children and their safety," he said. |
| Mr Moreland said the school's closure has been "very disruptive but health and safety has to come to the fore" and said staff acted quickly to ensure pupils were sent home safely, and those who avail of free school meals were fed before leaving. | Mr Moreland said the school's closure has been "very disruptive but health and safety has to come to the fore" and said staff acted quickly to ensure pupils were sent home safely, and those who avail of free school meals were fed before leaving. |
| Declan Norris says public safety is the main priority for councils | Declan Norris says public safety is the main priority for councils |
| Some councils will be closing council-run facilities early on Friday. | Some councils will be closing council-run facilities early on Friday. |
| Speaking outside Altnagelvin Cemetery, which will also be closed early, local SDLP councillor Declan Norris said closures are in place for the "safety of the public and workers". | Speaking outside Altnagelvin Cemetery, which will also be closed early, local SDLP councillor Declan Norris said closures are in place for the "safety of the public and workers". |
| "It's safety first. In the last storm a lot of trees came down. We can't have people being hurt." | "It's safety first. In the last storm a lot of trees came down. We can't have people being hurt." |
| 'Severe' gusts for Republic of Ireland | 'Severe' gusts for Republic of Ireland |
| More than 180,000 customers are without power in the Republic of Ireland, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said. | |
| Six counties in the Republic of Ireland have entered a status Orange wind warning. | Six counties in the Republic of Ireland have entered a status Orange wind warning. |
| The Status Orange wind warning for counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo came into effect at 14:00 (local time), and is in place until 22:00. | The Status Orange wind warning for counties Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo came into effect at 14:00 (local time), and is in place until 22:00. |
| A Status Red warning, the highest level, has been issued for County Donegal between 16:00 and 18:00. | A Status Red warning, the highest level, has been issued for County Donegal between 16:00 and 18:00. |
| The service is warning strong winds could lead to fallen trees, damage to power lines and dangerous travel conditions. | The service is warning strong winds could lead to fallen trees, damage to power lines and dangerous travel conditions. |
| Met Éireann has warned that the storm will bring "severe and damaging gusts". | Met Éireann has warned that the storm will bring "severe and damaging gusts". |