Morning, folks.

Catherine Healy here on TheJournal.ie’s commuting liveblog, helping you get to where you need to go.

Spotted something we should know about? Email catherine@thejournal.ie, tips@thejournal.ie or tweet me @Chealy_.

Not while driving, of course.

First things first: the weather.

A status orange wind warning is in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick, with gusts of between 110-130 kilometres an hour expected.

A status yellow wind advisory is also in effect for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford.

Both warnings are valid until midnight, so be careful while driving.

In Galway, the N18 Galway/Limerick Road is closed between Kilcolgan and Labane due to a serious crash. Diversions are in place via Kinvarra.

In Dublin, a new traffic system with lane restrictions is in place on College Street at College Green to facilitate Luas works.

Only buses, taxis and bikes will be able to travel through the College Green bus corridor from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Dublin Bus says stops 792 and 793 will be relocated to the northern end of Dawson Street, closer to the junction of Nassau Street, due to the construction.

In Kildare, there are reports of delays on the M7 Limerick/ Dublin Road northbound at the J11/M9 merge junction in the left lane following a breakdown.

Flooding and strong gusts continue to cause traffic disruptions on a number of routes.

• In Donegal, the Harry Blaney Bridge over Mulroy Bay is closed until further notice;
• In Galway, there’s a minor diversion in place on the N18 Limerick/ Galway Rd at Labane;
• In Sligo, the R294 Tubbercurry/Boyle Road outside Tubbercurry at Oghambaun and Quarryfield, as well as the R298 Enniscrone/Tullylin Road, remain closed;
• In Roscommon, the R367 Tulsk/Ballintober Road is shut on the Tulsk side of Castleplunket;
• In Longford, the R393 Longford/Ardagh Road is closed at the Blackbridge.

Traffic is picking up along the Dublin city centre quays.

To put this morning’s weather in context, here’s what Ireland looks like right now on a live wind map.

Travelling through Galway? You might want to get out on the road sharpish.

Traffic is heavy on roads across Dublin, including:

• The N4 Lucan Road from J4 Newcastle inbound through to the Palmerstown Bypass;
• The M50 southbound between J6 Blanchardstown and J10 Ballymount, and then from J12 Firhouse to J13 Ballinteer;
• The Stillorgan Road from Kilmacud Road Lower to Fosters Avenue, as well on the Rock Road inbound from Frascati Shopping Centre to the Merrion Gates;
• The Navan Road inbound from the railway bridge to the Ashtown roundabout;
• The Swords Road inbound between Collins Ave and the Whitworth Road junction; 
• The N7 Naas Road inbound between the Newlands Flyover and M50 Interchange;
• The North Quays from Inns Quay to Bachelors Walk;
• The Edge’s Corner in Fairview, inbound, to the Five Lamps on Amiens Street,
• The Grand Canal eastbound from Portobello to Leeson Street. 

Need to catch up on this morning’s big stories? Read our 8 at 8.

Irish Rail says a points fault north of Connolly is causing delays of around 15 minutes to Dart and Commuter services, affecting all trains passing through the station.

The fault has now been fixed, but delays remain.

In Cork, traffic lights are out on the N25 Cork/Waterford Road at Castlemartyr.

The R158 Trim/Summerhill Road in Meath is closed due to a crash. AA Roadwatch is advising drivers to avoid the area.

The race to the White House officially kicks off in the US today, with voting in the presidential nominating contest beginning in a matter of hours. If you’re stuck on the bus, train or Luas, read our explainer on the crucial Iowa caucus here.

And if you missed it last night, our reporter Dan MacGuill’s look at the special advisers who have run the country during this government’s term is well worth reading.

Back to traffic news: Live Drive reports that a breakdown inbound on the Drumartin Link Road after the Beacon Hotel in Dublin has backed traffic up to the M50.

On the Ballymun Road, meanwhile, a multi-vehicle collision inbound just after the M50 Interchange has reduced traffic to one lane. There are delays on both off-ramps from the M50.

In Kildare, the breakdown on the M7 Limerick/Dublin Rod northbound at the J11/M9 junction has been cleared.  There are reports of delays now from J10 Naas South to J7 Kill.

The N18 Galway/Limerick Road in Galway remains closed between Kilcolgan and Ardrahan due to a fatal crash.

Drivers have been advised to divert via the N67 and R347 Ardrahan/ Kinvarra Road, and avoid the flooded Clough Road.

In Dublin, there’s been a collision on the bus lane of the Navan Road inbound before the Ashtown roundabout.

If you were planning to get a train out of Clondalkin this morning:

The collision on the Ballymun Road inbound has been moved to the right lane to ease delays.

Another breakdown has been reported on the M50 southbound after J12 Firhouse in the left lane.

Delays are building on the N11 inbound at the right turn onto Nutley Lane following a breakdown.

Also in Dublin, a breakdown inbound on the Stillorgan Road after the UCD flyover in the right lane is causing delays on approach.

That’s all from us for now. See you back here tomorrow morning!