LAST UPDATE | 18 Aug 2020

A STATUS ORANGE wind warning has been issued for seven counties ahead of the arrival of Storm Ellen tomorrow evening and into Thursday. 

Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange wind warning for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.

The counties can expect heavy rain with a risk of flooding alongside strong winds.

“Storm Ellen will track over Ireland on Wednesday night and during Thursday bringing a period of severe and potentially damaging winds,” Met Éireann said.

“Due to the combination of storm surge, spring tides and onshore winds there is a potential risk of coastal flooding.” 

The Status Orange wind warning is valid from 9pm tomorrow evening until noon on Thursday.

An Orange Wind warning indicates winds that may gust between 110 and 130 km/h.

People in affected areas are advised to stay away from exposed coastal areas, to anticipate hazards when driving such as cross winds or falling trees, and to be aware of local conditions. 

A Status Yellow warning was issued for all 26 counties earlier today by Met Éireann, which remains in place from 9pm tomorrow and lasts for all of Thursday.

A similar warning was issued by the UK Met Office for the six counties of Northern Ireland, with that warning due to come into force from 8pm tomorrow. 

Status Yellow warnings are the lowest level of three warnings that can be issued by Met Éireann and in the case of wind are issued when gusts may reach between 90 and 110 km/h.

Met Éireann says it is set to become “very windy on Wednesday night” and that this will continue throughout the following day. 

“Severe gusts are likely and there is a risk of some disruption,” the forecaster says.

Due to the combination of storm surge, spring tides and onshore winds there is a potential risk of coastal flooding.

Met Éireann had earlier said that wind warnings were a possibility due to the wider forecast for heavy rainfall and “blustery” conditions nationwide over the next seven days.

Wet and windy weather is expected up to the weekend with further rainfall warnings likely

 Additional reporting by Lauren Boland.