Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, has left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity and disrupted public transport across Ireland, The Irish Times reports. Bus Éireann cancelled a number of its services as the storm brought heavy rain and strong winds, and a yellow rain and wind warning was in effect for Leinster and Munster, according to RTÉ.
The Irish Times reported the disruption on Friday morning, 23 October 2026, as forecasters and local authorities tracked the storm's effects across the south and east of the country.
Why it matters
The arrival of the season's first named storm tests the country's readiness for winter weather, and the early effects were felt most sharply in transport and electricity. Cancelled bus routes and downed power lines leave people unable to travel or work, and local authorities in several counties spent the morning clearing roads. The Irish Times noted that the storm's passage was watched closely in towns with recent histories of severe flooding, where the outcome this time was relief rather than damage.
Power cuts and road closures across Cork and Waterford
According to The Irish Times, ESB Networks reported that more than 1,500 homes in Cork city and county had lost power. Falling trees brought down power lines, with Ballydehob in West Cork the hardest hit, where almost 1,200 homes and businesses were cut off. Smaller numbers of premises lost supply in Glengarriff, Bantry, Enniskeane and Kinsale, as well as in Kanturk and Fermoy in North Cork, Ladysbridge and Cloyne in East Cork, and a small number of homes in Fairhill in Cork city.
Cork County Council said it had received reports of more than 40 fallen trees and branches overnight, and that crews were working to clear affected areas as quickly and safely as possible. The Irish Times reports that up to 60mm of rain fell in parts of the county overnight, though no river flooding was recorded. The council warned that standing water and surface ponding could still make the morning commute hazardous.
Trees came down onto electrical wires along the L6512 at Fusia Hill in Gortnanoon, south of Cork city, and the road was closed while ESB and council teams worked at the scene. The council advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes. The R612 between Carrigaline, Myrtleville and Crosshaven was impassable because of flooding at Frenchfurze and Hoddersfield outside Carrigaline. Further fallen trees were reported on the R629 between Cloyne and Shanagarry near Barnabrow House, and on the R579 between Nad and Banteer.
In Waterford, The Irish Times reports that council ground crews were clearing debris and dealing with flooding. A tree blocked part of the Outer Ring Road in Waterford city, and debris was being removed from the N25 near McGrath's Cross. Traffic on the N25 in Dungarvan town was reduced to a single lane because of flooding, and in Dunmore East a tree fell onto a streetlight. The council said flooding and fallen trees had been reported across the city and county, and urged the public to take care on the roads.
Waterford City and County Council later said trees were down on the L3919 at Crough Wood, on the L3025 outside the Woodhouse estate at Stradbally, and on the Outer Ring Road in the city. A tree was cleared from the Coast Road in Dungarvan, and flooding was present on a number of roads across the county.
Relief in Midleton and Bantry as flood defences hold
The Irish Times reports that traders and homeowners in Midleton in East Cork and Bantry in West Cork were relieved as Storm Austen passed without causing flooding, despite the heavy rain. Both towns have suffered badly in recent years: Storm Babet caused up to €200 million worth of damage in Midleton in 2023, and Bantry was flooded seven times between 2020 and 2025.
Gardaí in both towns told The Irish Times they had received no reports of flooding from anyone in either town or the surrounding areas. High tide in Bantry passed without incident at 2.30am, and in Midleton at 3.56am. Gardaí did report some trees down on secondary roads around Mogeely and Cloyne in East Cork.
Kerry County Council urged motorists to travel with care as assessments of Storm Austen's damage continued, according to RadioKerry.ie. The Journal reported heavy rain and flooding as the first storm of the season hit the country. The BBC reported that thousands were also without power as the storm struck Cornwall, Devon, Jersey and Guernsey.
What to watch
With a yellow rain and wind warning in place for Leinster and Munster, attention now turns to the clean-up, to further weather warnings, and to whether the power outages in Cork and elsewhere are restored before the weekend.
