A wind turbine off the coast of Wicklow has seemingly been struck by lightning amid torrid weather conditions.
Dublin, in particular, has been hit by a thunderstorm that is wreaking havoc on roads, and flash flooding has been reported.
Many parts of the country have been affected and left without power with thunder and lightning booming over skies in Dublin this morning.
READ MORE: Ireland weather live tracker shows where and when thunder will hit as Met Eireann issue warnings
A turbine of Wicklow was seemingly hit by lightning and could be seen with smoke billowing from it at lunchtime. A member of the public was able to take a photograph of the burning turbine.
The wind turbine blaze is expected to be allowed to burn out without intervention from the emergency services.
A statement from the Department of Transport to the Irish Mirror said: “Just after 12:00 today, a vessel passing the Arklow Bank reported seeing a wind turbine on fire.
“MRCC Dublin immediately contacted the owner of the turbine, GE Renewable Energy.
“There were no personnel in the vicinity of the turbine so no risk to life. The company are dealing with the incident and the Coast Guard have issued a Radio Navigation Warning to alert vessels in the area.”
It comes as the Status Orange thunderstorm warning is in effect until 5pm for counties Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, with Met Éireann warning of "intense" lightning strikes.
The alert read “Very heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms today (Wednesday) and tonight with the possibility of intense downpours, will lead to localised flooding. Disruption is likely.”
Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather also commented on the wind turbine ablaze, and said:
"Also hearing reports that one of the offshore wind turbines off the Arklow coast is on fire, anyone in that area see it?”
“Sadly one of the offshore wind turbines off the Arklow coast appears to have been struck by lightning with smoke billowing from it.”
Tonight bands of showers will continue to track up over the north of the country early in the night with a continued risk of localised flooding.
Drier conditions with clear spells and isolated showers will push into the south early, extending to all areas later.
With fresh to strong south-easterly winds will moderate overnight, remaining milder though with lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees.
Thursday
Thursday morning will be largely dry and partly cloudy with a few showers about mostly in southern coastal counties.
Heavier showery outbreaks of rain will extend into the south through the late afternoon and evening.
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