LAST UPDATE | 20 Oct 2024

STORM ASHLEY IS bringing heavy rain and strong winds as it hits Ireland today, particularly along the west coast, where flooding is expected due to high tides.

Over 53,000 homes, farms, and businesses are without power, with the ESB warning that some outages are likely to continue overnight.

A number of flights at Dublin Airport have been cancelled. Flights to Cork Airport have been struggling to land as the storm continues, and several flights intended for Dublin Airport have diverted to Shannon. 

A number of Ryanair flights have been diverted to airports in the UK.

There is a Status Orange wind warning in place for the entire west coast today, covering counties Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, from 10am until 8pm.

There is a Status Yellow wind warning in place for the entire country until 3am tomorrow. 

19.5 meters of a wave now recorded by the M6 Buoy out West of Ireland in the Atlantic. That is 64 feet or over 4 double decker buses high! Huge seas approaching the West coast, I really hope those in areas prone to coastal flooding are prepared best they can. #StormAshley pic.twitter.com/z6sCkFTMRc

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) October 20, 2024

Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry and Waterford are also currently under Status Yellow rain warnings until 9am today while in the North, counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry are also under Yellow rain warnings until midnight tonight. 

Some people are embracing the storm in Galway's Salthill Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Met Éireann has said the heavy rain will continue to clear eastwards this morning with a chance of some sunny spell in the east. But Ashley will then turn the weather stormy across the country for much of the day. 

Winds could reach storm force and the forecaster is predicting severe and damaging gusts. In the west, gusts of 130 kmph have already been recorded.

Wind observations for 12pm.

With the strong winds🍃 of #StormAshley making their way inland please take care and remember to "Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry" at all times during this event as conditions will be dangerous, especially near coasts🌊⚠️https://t.co/w5QtJ1UyEP pic.twitter.com/71pj0ruDWY

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 20, 2024

Impacts

Over 53,000 homes, farms, and businesses are without power, with the ESB warning that some outages are likely to continue overnight.

Flooding has already been reported in Bantry, Co Cork while Dublin Airport annouced some airlines have cancelled flights.

“Weather conditions have led to some airlines cancelling a small number of flights this morning. As always, passengers seeking updates regarding a specific flight should contact their airline directly,” the airport said in a post on X. 

Some sporting events have been cancelled, including the Clare senior football final and the Mayo senior hurling final. 

The last of the current astronomical spring tides has passed without flooding in #Bantry, County #Cork. Tide levels will now begin to fall again from high tide this evening. Pic courtesy Colin O’Neil, Bantry. pic.twitter.com/xOgpQEAi2x

— Paschal Sheehy (@PaschalSheehy) October 20, 2024

The rain will be heaviest in the west and northwest, Met Éireann said, with isolated thunderstorms and some spot flooding possible.

Highest temperatures are predicted to be between 12 and 16 degrees.

You can keep track of Met Éireann’s weather warnings here.