Storm Éowyn, the fifth named storm of the season, is set to strike Ireland this Thursday night and Friday.
Met Eireann is warning that northwestern counties will experience the worst impacts as the weather system tracks across the area.
Éowyn is forecast to bring heavy rain across different parts of the country and sleet and snow to parts of the west and north in particular.
Status orange warnings are expected “as a minimum” for western and northwestern areas.
Ireland is currently under an advisory for the storm but stronger weather warnings are due to be issued when the system comes within the range of Met Eireann’s high-resolution model.
The public is being warned to expect dangerous travel conditions, displaced objects, fallen trees, power outages, poor visibility, surface and localized river flooding due to saturated ground and heavy rainfall, and potential wave overtopping at high tide.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updated information as required,” said Met Eireann today.
Deputy Head of Forecasting, Liz Coleman, says: “Storm Éowyn will bring wet and very windy conditions on Friday, especially in the west and northwest. The very strong southwest winds with damaging gusts will start to be felt late on Thursday and will cause dangerous travelling conditions on Friday, with the likelihood of trees down and potentially power outages. Wave overtopping is also expected at high tide. There could be localised flooding further into Saturday associated to the heavy rain and to the snow melt.
“Western and northwestern counties are likely to see status orange wind warnings as a minimum, but we are monitoring the situation closely and will issue warnings as Met Éireann’s high resolution model, which provides information two days ahead, comes into play. We are in close contact with the NDFEM and emergency management stakeholders and will provide timely updates as the situation progresses.
“There will be a short respite from the weather on Saturday as Éowyn moves away, but we are also watching a different low-pressure system, forecast to bring impactful winds and further rain on Sunday. However, in this case the situation is still too uncertain; we will provide updates as the week progresses.”
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