AN ORANGE WIND warning remains in place in all western counties tonight as Storm Atiyah sweeps across Ireland, with lower-level yellow alerts in place in the rest of the country. The warnings are set to stay in effect until 6am.
There are localised power outages across the south-west, trees down along several routes in Kerry and Cork, and a number of flights have been cancelled or diverted from Shannon and Cork Airports.
Gusts of up to 130km are to be expected in counties where the orange alert applies, with gusts of up to 110km elsewhere.
A red alert – the most severe warning in Met Éireann’s three category system – that was in effect in Co Kerry earlier has now been lifted.
Kerry County Council urged residents to prepare for the incoming storm earlier, warning:
We are asking members of the public to take necessary precautions for high winds including, securing items or property which are susceptible to high winds such as hoarding, signage, Christmas lights/decorations, garden furniture, bins, trampolines.
The weather service is warning it will remain very windy or stormy overnight with strong to gale force northwesterly winds associated with Storm Atiyah, giving severe and possibly damaging gusts.
The latest forcast adds that winds will slowly ease from the west by morning. “Widespread squally showers also, with a risk of hail and thunder at first, but showers will become more isolated later.”
Tomorrow will start windy, especially in coastal areas and in the east, but winds will ease during the morning, Met Éireann says.
Trees down
Motorists are being reminded to reduce speed and beware of wind-blown debris while the weather warnings remain in effect.
AA Roadwatch says it has been receiving reports of trees down and debris on many regional and local roads across counties Kerry and Cork.
Amongst the routes affected by downed trees are the N70 Ring of Kerry between Cahersiveen and Glenbeigh near Kells and the Listowel/Athea Rd (R523) which is closed until further notice between the turn-offs for Abbeyfeale and Moyvane.
Power and transport
ESB’s powercheck service shows a cluster of service interruptions across Cork, Kerry and elswhere in the southwest. Over 100 households are without power around Moycullen in Galway, with a similar number affected around Swinford in Mayo.
Shannon and Cork Airports are advising passengers to check the status of their flights online after a number of cancellations and diversions.
Speed restrictions were in place on some rail services in Cork and Kerry earlier, but since the lifting of the red warning those limits have also now been lifted.
Bus Éireann services in the area were also affected today.
- With reporting by Daragh Brophy
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