[ad_1]
- Met Éireann has issued its most up to date forecast for today and it is bad. Storm Agnes will track northeastwards across Ireland with disruption likely in places. It will be wet and very windy with strong to gale force winds. Strong onshore winds and high seas will bring the risk of coastal flooding on eastern and southern coasts. The south and east will get the worse of the wind and rain.
- Storm Agnes: Met Éireann has warned of possible flooding, difficult travel conditions, power outages and some fallen trees as the storm makes landfall.
- Weather warning: A status orange wind warning is due to come into force at 9am in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Kilkenny and Carlow, with an orange level rain warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford. The updated warning was issued at 9pm on Tuesday night.
- A status yellow rain warning has been issued for several counties across Munster and Leinster, specifically Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow. Heavy rain is forecast under the warning between 7am and midnight.
The latest rainfall radar from Met Éireann indicates that heavy rain is affecting most parts of the country. A mean wind speed of 69km/h is already being experienced at Sherkin Island off the coast of Co Cork. That level of wind speed vindicates the orange level warning issued for Co Cork.
The storm surge around the Waterford Estuary is forecast to be significant and in the range of approximately 60cm and this will coincide with astronomical spring tides close to highest astronomical tide, Waterford County Council has warned.
Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council, has urged the public to exercise caution. “With the possibility of severe winds and localised and coastal flooding, driving conditions will be difficult, there is the risk of localised flooding, fallen trees and branches and poor visibility, all which will make journeys hazardous.
“Waterford City and County Council’s severe weather management team is monitoring the situation, and ground crews are on stand-by to deal with any issues that may arise. We would urge the public to heed all public safety advice and avoid unnecessary journeys until Storm Agnes has receded.”
Some 60 households in Ballincollig, Co Cork, have a power outage. Power is due to be restored at 12.30pm.
There are reports that Storm Agnes has made landfall in Clonakilty By with driving rain accompanying the wind. There are also video footage emerging on social media of wind and rain in Rosscarbery in west Cork. High tide is around 4.30pm in Cork. Onshore winds and heavy rain could lead to coastal flooding.
Brendan Creagh from Met Éireann last night explained why this storm could do damage: “We get these kind of weather systems any time of the year. It’s just when they reach the numerical values of status orange they can do a bit more damage than they would in winter when they are more common due to the trees still being in leaf.”
“But it’s going to be persistent for the whole day and it’s going to be a whole day event really as the [storm] makes it’s way to Scotland by say midnight tomorrow.”
Good morning. My name is Ronan McGreevy and I will be live blogging Storm Agnes today. If you have any observations, photographs or comments, you can contact me at ronan.mcgreevy@irishtimes.com
[ad_2]
