Stormy Halloween: High Winds Disrupt Events Across Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is battling a wave of wild weather this week, as a Met Office yellow wind warning sweeps across all six counties. From Thursday afternoon through late evening, gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour have been battering parts of the region, causing travel chaos, power disruptions, and the cancellation of several much-anticipated Halloween events.
The warning, in effect from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., has brought strong south to southeasterly winds accompanied by spells of heavy rain. The Met Office has cautioned that the combination could lead to delays across road, rail, air, and ferry transport, with particularly high risk around coastal areas and higher ground. Ferry services between Larne and Cairnryan were suspended, and nearly 20 regional flights to and from Belfast City Airport were cancelled due to safety concerns, as smaller propeller planes are more vulnerable in such turbulent conditions.
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Unfortunately, the storm has cast a shadow over one of Northern Ireland’s most festive times of the year. In Derry, often hailed as Europe’s Halloween capital, the famous “Awakening the Walled City Trail” event was cancelled, disappointing thousands of visitors who had travelled to soak up the city’s legendary spooky atmosphere. Parents like Naomi McLaughlin, who came from Belfast with her family, expressed disappointment but took the situation in stride, saying they hoped to enjoy indoor events instead.
Elsewhere, similar cancellations rippled across the region. Ballymena’s “Halloweena” celebration, Dungannon’s Market Square event, and the Bat Walk in Whitehead were all called off. Meanwhile, fireworks displays in Coleraine, Craigavon, and Belfast’s Falls Park were rescheduled to take place earlier in the week before the winds intensified. Even Belfast’s popular inflatable Halloween monsters—usually seen towering over buildings in the city centre—had to be temporarily deflated for safety reasons.
Met Office officials explained that the powerful winds, combined with bursts of rain, could bring short-lived but intense weather across Northern Ireland. They advised residents to prepare for brief power cuts and to avoid coastal areas where large waves might pose a danger.
While Friday’s weather is expected to improve slightly, forecasters warn that conditions will remain unpredictable throughout the weekend. Trick-or-treaters are being urged to dress warmly and bring waterproofs, as showers and gusty winds are still expected in some areas.
In short, it’s shaping up to be a Halloween that Northern Ireland won’t forget soon—not for the costumes or fireworks, but for the storm that blew through and reminded everyone that, sometimes, Mother Nature can deliver the biggest scare of all.
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