Thousands of people across Cork were left without power at times today, as Storm Dennis led to everything from hailstorms to thunder and lightning battering the city and county across the day and into the night.

Met Éireann had issued a Status Orange wind warning for Cork in advance, warning of southwest winds that were expected to reach mean speeds of 60km/h to 80km/h, with some severe gusts of up to 120km/h.

Two London flights and another flight from Glasgow to Cork were cancelled due to the force of the winds.

The bad weather also contributed to a number of crashes across the city, including a car crashing into a pole on the Old Youghal Rd, by St Joseph’s church.

There was another crash in Ballyvolane by the Applegreen garage on the North Ring Rd.

There was a one-car collision this morning near Killavullen. Emergency services, including two fire trucks, attended the incident and at around 3pm there was another collision on the M8 between Dunkettle and Glanmire. Three units of the Fire Brigade attended this incident.

In addition to the crashes, some fallen trees and flying debris caused further problems for motorists at numerous locations around the city and county, including in Rathcormac, Kilworth, and Ballincollig.

There were also a number of power outages in the city and county, most notably, in Fairhill, Carrigaline, Whitegate, and Lissarda. 

A tree blocking the R626 road from Rathcormac to Midleton, just outside Rathcormac.Picture: Ronan Bagnall. Thunder and lightning were reported in numerous parts of the county across the afternoon.

The weather led to the cancellation of three races at the Avondhu point-to-point meet at Knockanard, Fermoy, after high winds caused damage to the officials and jockeys tent.

We may not be out of the woods yet. Tomorrow is expected to be a cold, bright, blustery day with sunny spells and widespread heavy showers, again with a risk of hail and thunder.

While Cork was battered by winds and rain, it got off lightly in comparison with some other parts of the country and areas of Britain.

Fields in the Bundoran area of Donegal flooded when the River Drowes burst its banks.

In the North, the Foyle Bridge near Derry was closed to high-sided traffic amid strengthening winds.

Part of a carriageway near Carrickfergus in Co Antrim flooded and in East Belfast, bricks from some shopfronts collapsed during the high winds.

Meanwhile, police in South Wales have declared a major incident after the outbreak of severe flooding from the storm.

Streets have been evacuated with the help of a lifeboat in some of the worst-hit areas, and some people were moved to emergency rescue centres after their properties and businesses were devastated by water from overflowing rivers.

Debris at the junction of Tesco/Muskerry Estate in Ballincollig in Sunday. Picture credit: Cork Safety Alerts.

A family making their way down Barnavara Hill into Glanmire after a snow shower. Picture: Eddie O'Hare