Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange wind warning for half the country, with the risk of it becoming a Red level "certainly a possibility”.
There will be an Orange Level wind warning forCarlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway from 2am on Monday to 10am.
Met Éireann has also issued a Status Yellow wind and rain warning for the entire country from midnight tonight to 3pm tomorrow afternoon.
It has warned people to be wary of dangerous travelling conditions, damage to power lines and exposed structures.
Meteorologist Liz Walsh said the weather models are “always updating themselves” and recommended people check the warnings throughout today.
“It’s only one kilometre difference in the wind speed between the Orange level and the Red level, so just bear that in mind tomorrow morning,” she said.
When asked if there was a change the Status Orange warnings could develop into Red warnings, Ms Walsh said, “it’s certainly a possibility at this stage”.
'Rush hour and school drop off'
Ms Walsh explained most damage will happen overnight, but there are weather risks for many in the morning.
“We could be looking at some very strong winds for the Monday morning rush hour and school drop off,” she said.
She warned the “strongest winds” will be on the southern side of the Orange belt forming across the country.
“Any of those counties, specifically on the southern side, right into the middle Leinster areas and parts of Dublin, could see some very strong winds for a short time tomorrow morning.”
Sudden Orange warnings
The Status Orange wind warnings appeared very suddenly, according to Ms Walsh.
“If you had actually seen some of the models yesterday and this morning, it’s literally night and day,” she said.
“There would have been nothing showing on some charts but this morning, the same models are showing Orange levels and winds across the country.
“We're in a situation where we think this has the potential to be very impactful.”
Met Éireann are currently working with the National Emergency Coordination Group to assess potential damage.
