A 24-year-old man was killed in a road accident in Comber, Co Down, as gale-force winds swept across the North over the holidays.
The stormy weather, which began on St Stephen's Day, left eight families homeless and 50,000 homes without electricity at its peak.
Electricity supplies have still to be restored to about 17,000 homes.
The man killed in Comber was driving along the Belfast Road about 1 a.m. yesterday when his car hit a fallen tree. He had been on his way to visit friends. Flowers and cards have been laid at the scene. The RUC had still not released his name last night. Police had warned drivers to stay at home because of the hazardous conditions.
Many roads remain blocked by fallen trees, and the RUC last night advised motorists to take care.
Winds of up to 90 m.p.h. were recorded in Belfast. In other areas of the North they reached over 100 m.p.h., hurricane level.
Holywood and Banbridge in Co Down, Dungannon in Co Tyrone, and Ballycastle, Co Antrim, were among the areas worst affected by power cuts.
Fridges and freezers of Christmas food were ruined in many homes. Northern Ireland Electricity apologised to customers after complaints about difficulties in contacting its helpline.
Some customers claimed that when they eventually got through there was only an out-of-date recorded message.
Mr Colin Fallon of NIE blamed a fault with an automated answering machine.
He said every effort was being made to reconnect those still without electricity. Many homes in the west and north-west were left without television due to a mains fault at the Limavady and Brogher Mountain transmitter.
Eight families were left homeless when the roof blew off a block of flats in Holywood, Co Down. A police officer and a firefighter received minor injuries while rescuing residents.
Chimneys and other masonry collapsed into the upstairs rooms. Ms Susan Ferguson said it was a terrifying experience. "We were sitting watching television when it suddenly went off and we heard a big bang upstairs. We looked into the attic and there was no roof."
Scores of other buildings were badly damaged. Part of the roof at BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast was blown off. The weather also affected many sporting fixtures in the North.
Racing at Down Royal was abandoned after two races. The Kirk Cup hockey final was called off, as was an Irish Premier and three First Division matches and several junior football finals.
In east Belfast 200 people had to be evacuated from a circus amidst fears for the big top. The "American Style Circus" was sited beside Dundonald Ice Bowl.
The circus manager, Mr Kevin John, said: "A big gust of wind came up, and we thought it would be safer to bring the tent down." A primary school on Garvaghy Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, also lost its roof during the gales.