Storm Dave: Power Outages and Travel Chaos Across Ireland

Storm Dave has caused significant operational disruptions across Ireland’s transport and energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages and the cancellation of multiple flights during the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The weather system brought damaging gusts that impacted the national electricity grid and aviation hubs, with the most severe effects concentrated in coastal regions and major urban centers including Dublin, Cork, and Galway.

Energy Infrastructure and Power Outages

The impact on the national power grid has been substantial, with reports varying by source on the total number of affected premises. According to the Irish Times and RTÉ, approximately 18,000 homes, farms, and businesses were without power as a result of the storm.

ESB Networks reported that crews were mobilized in impacted areas to respond to outages where safety permitted. The company issued a public warning against approaching fallen wires or damaged electricity network infrastructure, noting that such equipment is live and dangerous.

The outages were attributed to strong winds and fallen trees bringing down power lines. Specific localized faults were reported in areas such as Thurles, where a restore time of 5 p.m. Was estimated for affected premises.

Aviation and Travel Disruptions

Dublin Airport experienced significant operational challenges on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The airport reported that 17 flights were cancelled due to the strong winds associated with Storm Dave.

The challenging wind conditions led to 53 go-arounds—where pilots decide not to complete a landing attempt and circle the aircraft for another approach—and 13 diversions.

The disruption extended to other regional hubs. Shannon Airport served as a primary diversion point for aircraft unable to land at other destinations. Nine aircraft were diverted to Shannon on Saturday afternoon, including flights from London Stansted, Lanzarote, Amsterdam Schiphol, Reus Airport in Spain, and Palma de Mallorca Airport.

Passengers bound for Cork Airport were among those diverted to Shannon, necessitating bus transfers to reach their final destination. Other diversions to Shannon included flights originally destined for Dublin and Kerry airports from Alicante, Bristol, and Barcelona.

Weather Warnings and Regional Impact

Met Éireann implemented a tiered warning system to manage the risks posed by the storm. A status orange wind warning was in effect for Co Wexford and coastal areas stretching from Kerry to Dublin on the evening of April 4, 2026.

The remainder of the country was placed under a status yellow warning. The storm’s impact was felt across several counties, with reported infrastructure damage and power issues in Mayo and Roscommon.

Beyond aviation and power, the storm affected broader public transportation networks. Reports indicate that bus and rail services were compromised by debris, flooding, and fallen trees across critical routes.

The Daa and airline operators advised passengers traveling on Sunday, April 5, 2026, to contact their airlines directly or monitor official websites for updates on flight statuses as strong winds were expected to continue impacting operations.