Galway Bay fm newsroom - Thousands of homes across Galway are without power this morning as Storm Ali tracks along the west coast.
A Status Orange Wind warning is into effect for most of the country since 5am.
Storm Ali will track close to the west and northwest coast this morning and will then move quickly eastwards.
Winds will reach average speeds between 65 and 80 km/h with gusts between 110 and 120 km/h for a time.
Motorists are being advised to be alert to debris on the roads - with fallen trees and branches reported on roads across the city and county.
While most routes remain passable - Gardai are warning the road is fully closed between Belcare and Corrandulla on the Tuam side of Castlehackett National School due to a tree on the road.
In the city, fallen trees have lead to the closure of St. Marys Road, Crescent Road, and the Monivea Road at Thermo-King - with the Prom at Salthill set to close around now.
Many other routes in the city and county have also been reduced to a single lane and motorists are being advised to allow additional times for their journey.
Meanwhile, thousands of homes across Galway are currently without power.
The worst affected area is Screebe - where almost 7 thousand homes are without a service as Storm Ali batters the west coast.
A further 1,300 homes are without power in Recess - while over 1,400 homes in Oughterard are without a service.
Over 400 homes are affected in Salthill - and service is not expected to be restored to areas west of Galway City until late this evening.
A further 200 homes are without power in Tuam North, but service there is expected to be restored by around midday.
The wind warning will remain in place for the whole country until 5 o' clock this evening.
