Southern and eastern coastal areas can expect wind at speeds of “up to 120km per hour” today as Storm Agnes hits Ireland.
Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange wind warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford as Storm Agnes reaches Ireland.
The warning is valid from 9am this morning until 5pm.
Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry and Waterford from 7am to midnight tonight.
A Status Yellow wind warning is also in place for Leinster, Munster and Galway.
Those in counties with Orange warnings can expect “spells of heavy and occasionally intense rain, combined with very strong and gusty winds,” according to Met Éireann.
Strong winds and high levels of rain are expected in most parts of the country as the forecaster warns of fallen trees, difficult travelling and power outages.
#StormAgnes
Updated : Galway has been added to the yellow wind warning 🍃⏲️Valid: 07:00 Wednesday 27/09/2023 to 00:00 Thursday 28/09/2023
See all active warnings here ➡️https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/o7ylo8KNlt
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) September 26, 2023
Weather expert Cathal Nolan said Storm Agnes will weaken before it has its “full impact on Ireland”.
“At its strongest, winds could be up to 160 to 170km per hour,” he said. “Thankfully we won’t see those winds.
“But we will see, however, on southern and later along the eastern coasts are winds probably up to 120km per hour, maybe exceeding that in one or two very isolated locations.”
Storm Agnes is likely to make landfall late Wednesday morning and for now a number of weather warnings have been issued in response. Check out https://t.co/WYHso6okOM for updated weather information #StormAgnes. pic.twitter.com/Ye5I3WSi42
— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) September 26, 2023
Cork City Council's Severe Weather Assessment team met ahead of Storm Agnes' arrival.
Director of Services David Joyce said high tide will impact traffic in some areas.
“We're not predicting widespread flooding, but we are predicting that there will be traffic and parking effects on low-lying quays,” he said.
“So, while it is worrying, it is not the case that there needs to be significant preparations done.”
