Upgraded status red weather warning for Galway

Very stormy conditions with violent winds are to be expected this evening with very severe gusts of 130 to 170km/h.

Some 1500 ESB customers are still without power across the county this evening as a result of the violent storm conditions.

Areas affected include Gort, Lettermore, Woodford, and Ardrahan- and most faults have been caused by fallen trees or power lines.

The ESB is advising people to stay away from fallen power lines and treat them as though they are live.

Matt Cunningham, spokesperson for ESB in Galway, says teams are working to repair all faults and will restore power as quickly as possible

Meanwhile, the driver of a truck that overturned on the N18 Galway to Gort road at Kiltartan has been taken to UGH as a precautionary measure.

The road at Kiltartan was fully closed to facilitate the removal of the truck, but is expected to re-open around now.

Council crews are assisting in the removal of several fallen trees across the county, and Bus Eireann services were suspended for a time earlier this afternoon due to high winds.

Due to fallen trees, the road between Killure and Nutfield and the road between Ahascra and Fohanna is impassible.

The road between Castleblakeney and Ballymacward is closed due to a fallen powerline.

Gardaí are reporting spot flooding on roads in the city, Salthill and Clifden, and are advising of strong crosswinds on the M6 Dublin to Galway road between junction 13 Athlone West and Junction 15 Ballinasloe West.

Meanwhile, Gary McMahon from Galway City Council is advising people not to take any risks

Meanwhile, Westside Library has closed due to storm damage.

Four large panes of glass at the front of the building smashed to the ground as a result of high winds.

Librarian Cora Gunter says the library will remain closed until engineers can assess the safety of the building: