LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2024

MET ÉIREANN HAS issued a slew of weather warnings today, as Storm Darragh looks set to cause severe winds and rainy conditions across the country this weekend.

Status Orange wind warnings will affect sixteen counties over the next two days -  warnings will come into effect on Friday night for Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal this weekend, as well as counties Fermanagh, Armagh, Tyrone, Down, Antrim and Derry.

The Orange wind warning is valid from 10pm on Friday, and will last until 9am on Saturday.

A separate Orange wind warning will be in place for Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford on Saturday, from midnight until 9am.

Storm Darragh has been named by The UK Met Office.

Storm Darragh will track east across Ireland and the UK from the Atlantic on Friday night into Saturday⚠️

Stay up to date on https://t.co/dz6JbE5FIb#StormDarragh #MetÉireann pic.twitter.com/jtrJbxlZ1U

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 5, 2024

Met Éireann has warned of “very difficult travelling conditions” during the storm, as fallen trees, damaged power lines, large sea waves and damaged property are expected.

The Road Safety Authority haved urged motorists to take extra precaution when driving, and to drive slower, allowing greater braking distance between themselves and the vehicle in front in wet weather conditions.

The RSA also warned drivers to watch for falling debris on roads, avoid flooded areas and to give extra space to vulnerable road users such as cyclists or motorcyclists.

With Storm Darragh approaching, there are a number of weather warnings in place for the coming days, including orange and yellow warnings for wind and rain.
Road users are advised that this could lead to difficult travel conditions.
For more, visit https://t.co/msayTyHSzk pic.twitter.com/VQ7zfumGFm

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) December 5, 2024

Keith Leonard, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, urged the public to stay away from coastal areas during this period and “to heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard for people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.” 

“Most of the country will be impacted by strong winds and everyone should take extra care. In particular, this storm may bring dangerous travelling condition,” Leonard said.

Strong winds can make driving conditions hazardous, especially for more vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles, and road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.

“There is also potential for localised flooding in some areas, so it’s important to remember to never drive through flooded roads, as the depth of the water can be deceiving.”

A nationwide Status Yellow wind warning will also be in place nationwide on Friday night.

The national weather forecaster has said that it will be an “extremely windy or stormy” weekend with heavy rain, which will give way to clear spells and occasional showers, some of hail or sleet. The showers will be most widespread across the north and west, but will make their way across the country too in fresh to strong and gusty northwest winds.

A number of Status Yellow weather warnings also came into in effect this afternoon. 

A Yellow Wind Warning came into effect from midday today in Kerry, followed by similar wind warnings in Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal from 1pm.

An Amber wind warning has been issued for all of Northern Ireland on Saturday – Wind Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry

Eoin Sherlock, head forecaster with Met Éireann, has said naming storms has proven effective in raising awareness of extreme weather. He said it “increases the level of public safety and preparedness as people are more likely to remember and respond to warnings when storms are named”.

ESB Networks is highlighting dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately to 1800 372 999.