LAST UPDATE | 20 Jan

THE ROAD SAFETY Authority (RSA) has warned road users to exercise caution while driving tomorrow and Monday after Status Orange weather warnings have been issued for all of Ireland.

Met Éireann has warned that storm Isha will bring very strong southwest winds with severe and damaging gusts. The forecaster has warned that likely impacts include:

• Large coastal waves with wave overtopping
• Very difficult travelling conditions
• Fallen trees
• Damage to power lines

The RSA said that road users in areas affected by the warning should check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey. Drivers are asked to slow down and to take extra care when driving behind goods vehicles.

People are also advised to watch out for debris, and to always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic.

Meanwhile, Gas Networks Ireland has assured people that it did not expect any disruption to gas supplies during the storm, but advised customers that gas appliances may be affected during a power cut.

The weather today is mostly mild across the country, but Met Éireann is forecasting wet and windy conditions tomorrow as the storm tracks to the northwest of Ireland.

“Very strong and gusty southwesterly winds will develop countrywide, with strong gales and high waves along coasts,” the forecaster says.

It will be a wet day too, with rain becoming heavy at times, particularly in the west and south. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.

Conditions are set to worsen further tomorrow night and into Monday morning.

Status Orange - Wind warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster, Connacht

Very strong southwest winds with severe and damaging gusts⤵️https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/P1iJCOWS8S

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 20, 2024

The wind warnings will stay in place in Munster, Connacht, Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Cavan from 5pm tomorrow, Sunday, until 2am on Monday. 

In Donegal, the warning will expire at 5am on Monday.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, the Met Office has issued amber warnings on Sunday for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald