TIME TO BATTEN down the hatches, get out the anorak, and keep away from the coast.
After a very brief respite, Ireland is set to be battered by Atlantic storms today with winds of up to 130 km/hr expected in parts of the country.
Met Éireann has issued an orange alert for parts of the country, warning that Munster is most likely to be affected today just days after Limerick suffered millions of euro worth of damages in heavy flooding. Wexford and Galway are always at risk.
Separately, a yellow warning has been issued for Dublin, Louth, Wicklow and Meath with winds of up to 110 km/hr expected during the day.
With little let-up in the harsh weather for the past month, the public has been warned to take extra care this weekend.
Rain over Ireland at 9.30am today. (Pic: Met.ie)
The National Coordination Group has warned that the major risk over the next week will be river flooding as almost every river in the country is already near capacity.
The Road Safety Authority has advised drivers to look out for any debris on roads or vehicles veering across a road as a result of the strong winds.
Meanwhile both An Garda Síochána and the Coast Guard have appealed to parents to not put their children in danger.
The wind system over Ireland this morning (Pic: Earth Wind Map)
“People need to recognise the destructive and dangerous power of nature and exercise extreme caution when close to areas such as cliff walks, harbours, rivers and lakes,” said Superintendent David Taylor of the Garda Press Office.
Here’s Met Éireann’s forecast for today:
This morning will be stormy in coastal counties of Munster with very strong and gusty southwest winds. They’ll become west to southwest in direction this afternoon and will continue very strong and gusty. Fresh to strong south to southwest winds elsewhere. Widespread heavy or prolonged, blustery showers today, some thundery. Highest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees.
AA Roadwatch has reported that conditions are wet and windy in most places this morning but there no reports of any major flooding.
Met Éireann has said the bad weather is set to continue as far ahead as meterologists can forecast.
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