Schools in 19 counties have been asked to delay opening tomorrow morning with Status Red wind warnings due to come into force later tonight.
Met Éireann is warning that Storm Debi will bring “extremely gusty” conditions tonight and early tomorrow with “potential danger to life”.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group has met this afternoon to discuss the best response to take as Storm Debi closes in on Ireland.
Schools in 19 counties are to remain closed until at least 10am.
Bus Éireann has also warned that it will not be operating school transport tomorrow morning.
It is up to individual school management teams if they open after 10am.
#StormDebi will sweep across Ireland on Sunday night & Monday morning
There will be severe and damaging gusts, likely to lead to:
🏡 Damage to vulnerable structures
🚗 Dangerous travelling conditions
⚡️ Disruption to services & power linesMore here 👇https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/TUuzgodvdg
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 12, 2023
Widespread power outages and dangerous travelling conditions are expected in Red warning counties, and people are being asked to work from home if they can.
Met Éireann Head of Forecasting Eoin Sherlock told Newstalk it is a fast-moving but dangerous weather system.
“We can expect some severe winds and also gusts – gusts are probably going to the main issue for Storm Debi later this evening and over tonight,” he said.
“It is going to affect the southwest of the country passing through the northeast and exiting in the northeast perhaps towards Louth etc.
“So, we can expect winds of up 130kph.”
Red, Orange and Yellow warnings
The first Status Red warning will come into force in Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, east Galway, south Roscommon from 2am tonight until 5am.
The second Red warning will come into force in Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath from 5am to 8am.
Meanwhile, Status Orange wind warnings are due to come into force in Cork from 1am to 4am and in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon from 2am until 10am.
There is also Yellow wind and rain warnings across the entire country from midnight until 3pm.
The National Emergency Co-Ordination Group has asked that all early learning and care and school-aged childcare settings in the 19 counties affected by the Status Red and Orange warnings delay opening until 10am tomorrow.
Full details: https://t.co/DYnyonE12q
— Roderic O’Gorman TD (@rodericogorman) November 12, 2023
It is understood that many creches will also remain closed tomorrow morning on safety grounds.
Met Éireann is warning that Storm Debi could damage exposed and vulnerable structures and lead to significant power outages and disruption to services and transport.
There is also a risk from fallen trees and branches.
This is the first Status Red weather warning inland since Storm Eunice in February 2022, issued for Cork and Kerry.
