Wind warnings in place for Sunday as Storm Ashley set to sweep across Ireland

LAST UPDATE | 7 hrs ago

A STATUS ORANGE wind warning has been put in place by Met Éireann for counties Galway and Mayo on Sunday while a Status Yellow warning will be in place for other counties. 

Both warnings are in place from midday on Sunday until 9pm as Storm Ashley, the first named storm of the season, approaches.

People in Galway and Mayo are told to expect coastal flooding, large waves, loose objects being displaced, fallen trees, difficult travelling conditions, potential power outages and damage or destruction of already weakened structures.

A spokesperson for Met Éireann said that the risk of flooding this year was exacerbated by high tides.

“This storm is coming at a time when we are experiencing some of the highest tides of the year. The combination of these along with storm force winds on western coasts means that there is a risk of coastal flooding, particularly along the coasts of Galway and Mayo,” they said on RTÉ’s News at One.

The high tides are being caused by a Hunter Moon, which occurs when the moon orbit particularly close to earth, resulting in higher than normal tides.

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Keith Leonard, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) urged the public to stay away from roads where possible, and to “heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’”.

NDFEM said that it will be liasing with Met Éireann for the duration of the warning period, and will issue reports when necessary.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to take extreme care. It has warned of the potential for fallen trees and power lines, and debris on roads.

Heavy rain will begin overnight on Saturday as the strom begins and that will continue throughout the day on Sunday, as winds increase. The most persistent showers will be in the west.

Thunderstorms are also possible on Sunday, Met Éireann said, and strong to gale force winds will being the potential for disruptions all over the country.

There will be ongoing risks of coastal flooding due to a combination of high seas and spring tides, especially for counties along the Atlantic.

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