Environment

Storm Barra: Orange warning issued for several counties on Tuesday

Met Éireann names Atlantic depression that will bring strong winds and heavy rain

Met Éireann has warned of potential flooding and damaging gusts. Photograph: Met Éireann
Met Éireann has warned of potential flooding and damaging gusts. Photograph: Met Éireann
Niamh Delmer
Sun Dec 05 2021 - 18:16

Strong winds and heavy rain will wash over Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday as Storm Barra, an Atlantic depression named on Sunday by Met Éireann, moves over the country.

As a result, Met Éireann has issued a status orange wind warning for Tuesday and Tuesday night for counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. The warning is in place from 6am on Tuesday to 6am on Wednesday, with the forecaster saying that the areas affected can expect winds with mean speeds of 65 to 80km/h with severe or damaging gusts of up to 130km/h during this period. It also said these areas would likely experience disruption to power and travel.

A status yellow wind warning will meanwhile be in place for Leinster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, and Waterford, from 6am on Tuesday until 6am on Wednesday.

Winds will be strongest in western coastal counties, the national forecaster said.

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The heavy rain will bring localised flooding, it said, and there will be a “significant possibility” of coastal flooding on south and west coasts due to high waves at sea.

The UK Met Office has also issued a yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland for Tuesday. It warned of potential travel disruptions due to strong winds.

A status yellow gale marine warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea will also be in place on Tuesday.

Southerly winds veering westerly will reach gale force eight or higher on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, according to Met Éireann.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has asked road users to exercise caution while over the coming days.

Road users in areas affected by the orange warning are advised to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey.

The RSA has said motorists should beware of objects blown onto the road and watch out for falling/fallen debris.

Drivers should allow extra space between themselves and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists as they may be blown off course by strong winds, it said.