Met Eireann update warnings for 13 counties in effect NOW as Ireland braces for flooding & ‘significant’ storm in days

Some experts are comparing a possible storm next week to Storm Eowyn
MET Eireann has upgraded its warnings to include seven counties whilst the Met Office slapped six counties with alerts – all of which are currently in effect.

Ireland is being whacked by gale force winds and battering rain whilst bracing for a storm due next week that experts have warned could rival Storm Eowyn.

Met Eireann this morning issued a last-minute Status Yellow rain warning for Cork and Kerry that will be remain in place until 9am tomorrow morning.

It warned localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions could be possible impacts of the heavy rain.

A Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued for Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford – and it will last until 5pm.

The weather forecaster said strong to gale force and gusty southeasterly winds could cause difficult travelling conditions and debris.

And up the north, the UK Met Office has issued a similar yellow wind warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry.

The alert, which kicked in this afternoon and will remain in place until 7pm, said: “A spell of strong and gusty winds bringing potential disruption to transport and infrastructure.”

These conditions are the result of a low-pressure system entering the country.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel said: “We expect to see southerly and southeasterly winds, at times gusting up to 90-100kmph, perhaps in coastal areas, and inland up to 80-90kmph.

“Strong enough to cause some concern, but generally speaking the status yellow weather warning level is the warranted level on this occasion.

“We will also see some pretty heavy and squally rain passing through as well, during that period in time, and we can expect to see some extra surface water on the road, so tricky driving conditions expected overall.”

Meanwhile, Cathal explained that a “potentially significant” storm, which could be the second name storm of the season, is forecast to hit Ireland next week.

He said: “Storm Bramley, would be potentially being named for that Monday evening into Tuesday morning period.

“Now the winds from that, in that particular solution in the ECMWF, are gusting up to 160kmph in coastal areas and inland even up to 130kmph. 

“That would certainly cause some significant disruption, loss of power over a large area, and indeed it is something that we’re keeping a very close eye on.”

Some weather boffins are comparing the weather event to Storm Eowyn, which shook the country in January.

Kenneth McDonagh from the Donegal Weather Channel said: “The latest outlook from the European forecasting model this evening continues to show a potential strong wind storm next Monday into Tuesday.

“I think the most interesting model run was this morning from the UKMO, showing a very powerful storm over Ireland, which would give storm Eowyn a run for its money, something we certainly don’t want coming into this time of year.”

In an update on the situation this afternoon, Nick Critch from Weather Alerts Ireland said: “The potential of a big storm impacting Ireland on Tuesday still remains.

“The European model is sticking to a storm but lots of uncertainty remains!”