LAST UPDATE | 6 Dec 2018

THE ROAD SAFETY Authority has advised road users to exercise caution in the early hours of tomorrow as a Status Orange weather warning for two counties comes into effect. 

Met Éireann has issued the warning for Counties Donegal and Mayo, which will come into effect at 1am and last until 8am. 

The warning applies to coastal regions and high ground in these counties. 

Winds are set to hit mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h, with gusts of 110 to 130 km/h overnight.

The RSA advised road users to check local weather and traffic conditions and to be aware of the conditions before setting out on a trip. 

Among its guidelines, the RSA issued the following advice:

• Beware of objects being blown out onto the road. Expect the unexpected.
• Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road
• Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds
• Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists

A separate Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued for all of Connacht and Counties Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Kerry and Limerick. 

This warning will come into effect tonight at 10pm and is set to last until noon tomorrow.

Southwest winds are likely to reach speeds of between 55 and 65 km/h with gusts of 90 to 110 km/h expected. 

Rain will become persistent tonight and it will get very windy across the country, with heavy showers spreading eastwards as the night progresses.