Updated 10.58 pm
WIND GUSTS OF up to 130 km/h are to be expected as Storm Henry hits Ireland, with the west coast bearing the brunt of the severe winds.
A status orange weather warning, the second highest, is in place in all the counties along the west coast of Ireland and will remain in place until tonight.
The lesser yellow warning is in place in Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford.
Mean speeds of between 65 to 80 km/h are to be expected with gusts of between 110 to 130 km/h possible
So far, the ESB are not reporting widespread power outages after the storm hit last night, but a number of areas are experiencing outages.
About 560 homes are affected by a fault near Donegal town with problems also persisting in Mohill, Mullinahone and Abbeyfeale.
Met Éireann says the wind and strong gale force southwest winds will continue throughout the day, reaching their peak severity in the late afternoon and evening.
It will continue to be very windy early tonight and stormy near the northwest and north coasts, before it gradually eases overnight.
In terms of rain, forecasters say the the storm will bring mainly drizle and some showery spells which will become more prolonged tonight.
The Road Safety Authority is advising all motorists to take extra care and to be aware of cross winds and objects being blown onto the road.
Members of the public are being urged to avoid exposed coastal locations throughout today and tonight.
The storm is the eighth weather system to be named under the recently-introduced Anglo-Irish storm naming scheme and follows from last week’s Storm Gertrude.
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