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The seafront in Bray County Wicklow earlier this month. Eamon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Falling debris, veering vehicles and aquaplaning all hazards as storm approaches

Winds gusting 100 to 130 km/h are expect to hit Atlantic counties later tonight.

STORM GUSTS OF up to 130 km/h are expected from an Atlantic storm that is scheduled to hit Ireland tonight and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is urging motorists be vigilant.

The storm will be strongest in the Atlantic counties and is predicted to move northwest tonight and into tomorrow with southwest winds gusting 100 to 130 km/h. Frequent heavy showers are also expected with sleet and snow also possible on higher ground.

With road conditions becoming potentially hazardous, the RSA is advising motorists about a number of extra precautions they should take while driving.

A 23-year-old woman died last month when a tree fell on the car she was driving during severe weather and so far in total there have been 14 fatalities on the roads in 2014. A decrease on the 18 people who died in January 2013.

In particular, drivers are being told to watch out for falling debris or objects being blown out onto the road as well as vehicles veering to the side.

During heavy rainfall drivers should also ensure that they allow extra time to stop suddenly and make sure that they are at least four seconds behind the driver in front.

While driving on roads where speed limits are above 100 km/h the risk of losing control due to aquaplaning is also increased.

Very high tides have also been predicted this weekend and flood warnings have been issued in a number of counties.

Tom Tiernan of Clare County Council explains that heavy rainfall, strong gale to storm force winds, a large sea swell and a spring tide are all combining to lead to a possible repeat of the flooding earlier this month:

There is a serious risk countywide of both coastal and inland flooding and all areas which have flooded in the past could be seriously impacted. Conditions could be similar in nature and extent to the storm events of early January with the potential for structural damage.

Tiernan added that river levels remain “very high” and arrangements have been put in place to continuously monitor the situation.

Read: Orange Alert: Wind, snow and “extremely high waves” this weekend as another storm hits >

Read: Battered: Your pictures of how the storm took its toll >

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25 Comments
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    Mute Dermot O Dwyer
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:51 AM

    But theres a grand stretch in the evenings thank God…..

    295
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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:04 AM

    Nothing approaching drying weather, though.

    43
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jan 31st 2014, 10:14 AM

    Wetting weather, more like!

    9
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    Mute 1 Human Being
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:56 AM

    Hopefully won’t be as bad as the last one.

    73
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    Mute Irish Water
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:18 AM

    And they want to charge us for this abundance of Water ☔️☔️☔️

    58
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:53 AM

    Mmmm tasty. Salty and sewage infested water for a lovely cup of tea!

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    Mute Vinny Finn
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:53 AM

    They already hit Galway (Salthill Prom) this morning at 6am.

    53
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    Mute john king
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:23 AM

    If only there was a way to bottle it! We’d be minted!

    33
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    Mute Maria Clery-Breen
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:11 AM

    Stay dry

    28
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    Mute Maurice Quille
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    Jan 31st 2014, 10:02 AM

    Stay classy

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    Mute Tony Le Blanc
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:47 AM

    Go f*ck yourself San Diego

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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:23 AM
    24
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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:14 AM

    Why would someone downvote this??

    14
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    Mute Suzanne Delaney Porter
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:27 AM

    That u?

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:28 AM

    Ah jaysus howiya :D

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    Mute Suzanne Delaney Porter
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    Jan 31st 2014, 9:41 AM

    Obviously too much time on my hands! You? On the weather front it’s lashing out of it up here

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jan 31st 2014, 10:22 AM

    I always have an auld read of the Journal before starting to work.. Takes me nicely up to lunchtime :P All good here but Cork is getting lashed out of it too. I’m right on the coast in my office and the sea looks very Tsunami like.

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    Mute Micky
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:12 AM

    Is it you?

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jan 31st 2014, 11:35 AM

    T’is myself alright :)

    11
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    Mute Micky
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    Jan 31st 2014, 1:28 PM

    How ya keeping?

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    Mute Micky
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    Jan 31st 2014, 1:30 PM

    I bet it’s raining up there in Carn. Is the garden flooded yet?

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    Mute Suzanne Delaney Porter
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    Jan 31st 2014, 7:22 PM

    Hey micky ur so fine..ur so fine …u blow my mind..hey micky…hey micky

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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:56 AM

    Lashin wind and rain in Enniskillen. Already been a bad smash.

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    Mute Chris Treacy
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:17 AM

    Ha ha 4 fuc*ing seconds to the car in front……bolli*….every tosser wud be passing you on the inside …pity but true

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    Mute Dec Flahive
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    Jan 31st 2014, 8:34 AM

    Or you could drive on the inside…

    83
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