LAST UPDATE | 27 Dec 2023

FRESH STATUS ORANGE wind warnings have been issued for five counties tonight, following the passage of Storm Gerrit over Ireland today. 

This evening, Met Éireann issued a new Status Orange wind warning for Waterford and Wexford, after previously issuing an Orange warning for Cork, Kerry and Clare.

The warning is valid until midnight tonight, with strong to gale force westerly winds expected, and likely coastal flooding due to spring tides.

Met Éireann also said that power outages and severe disruption is likely, along with dangerous travelling conditions.

A Status Yellow wind and rain warning is currently in effect across the rest of the island and is not due to elapse until midnight tonight; a previous Status Orange wind warning for Galway was downgraded to Status Yellow.

Another Status Yellow rain warning was also issued earlier for Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo and will take effect from midnight until 6am on Friday morning.

Hundreds of properties experienced outages this morning, according to ESB’s Power Check, and around 2,000 are currently without power. 

The last of the heavy overnight rain and high winds will move off into the Irish Sea early this morning, Met Eireann said. 

“While sunny spells will develop, some intense squally showers, with hail, will move in across the country on a brisk southwest flow,” the forecaster said while predicting highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. 

This evening is expected to become increasingly windy or even stormy as strong to gale force westerly winds brought by Storm Gerrit move across the country. 

Lowest temperatures tonight are predicted to be between 3 and 6 degrees.

Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team met this morning in response to the weather warnings and put the council’s response crews and contractors on notice.

Sandbags and pumps have been deployed and crews are on standby in areas known to be affected by coastal flood events.

A Status Orange Rainfall Warning for West Cork and Yellow Rainfall Warning for the rest of Cork County is currently in effect. A Status Orange Wind Warning for the entire county has been issued by Met Eireann and is set to come into effect at 3.00pm today, with strong to gale… pic.twitter.com/xBrDDNJ81v

— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) December 27, 2023

Kerry Council Council has similarly alerted crews to be on standby to any problems that may arise and is making sandbags available at a number of locations in Kenmare, Sneem, Dingle, Castleisland, Killarney, Killorglin, Listowel, Tralee, Caherciveen.

In the North, a UK Met Office yellow wind and rain warning covering the entire region came into effect at 2am on Wednesday and lifted at 10am.

There were reports of localised floods in several areas in the region, with many roads closed as a consequence.

Contains reporting from Lauren Boland and Stephen McDermott.