Ireland is bracing for a powerful storm expected to bring torrential rain and strong winds throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning. Storm Darragh, as it has been named, is churning in from the Atlantic and has prompted the Irish Meteorological Service, Met Éireann, to issue severe weather warnings.
Some coastal counties in the west of Ireland are under the highest level of alert, a status red warning, indicating potentially perilous conditions. Thes warnings are in effect as the storm makes landfall.
A status orange warning, signifying a less severe but still notable threat, is in place nationwide for wind.
Specific Warning Details
- RED: Mayo’s warning is in effect until 3 a.m., while Clare and Galway’s warnings will expire at 2 a.m.
- RED: Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo are under a red warning from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m.
- RED: Wicklow will be under a red warning from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.
- ORANGE: An orange wind warning is in effect for Munster and Connacht (excluding counties under red warnings) from 8 p.m. on Friday, extending to Leinster, Cavan, and Monaghan two hours later. This warning will expire at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The first red warning for Storm Darragh is currently in effect for counties Mayo, Clare, and Galway.
Mayo’s warning will remain in place until 3 a.m.,wiht Clare and Galway’s warnings expiring at 2 a.m. Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo will be under a red warning from 10 p.m.
In Galway, preparations are underway as residents and officials brace for the storm’s impact.
“We are on top of it but things can change very quickly in a storm,” said Galway City Mayor Peter keane. “The safety of people is paramount.”
Sandbags have been distributed throughout the city, particularly in vulnerable areas like the Spanish Arch, Claddagh, and Salthill. Some car parks have been closed as a precaution.
Householders and businesses in areas prone to flooding have taken proactive measures, deploying their own flood-prevention equipment. These measures were put in place just weeks after being used during Storm Conall.
Galway City Council and Galway County Council have mobilized their road crews and fire personnel, ready to respond to any emergencies that may arise.
Damage to trees and power lines is anticipated, with some homes in south Connemara still recovering from power outages caused by the previous storm.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution, be aware of potential hazards like fallen branches and debris, and avoid needless travel due to dangerous driving conditions.
Storm Darragh is expected to bring severe gales and heavy rain to Ireland this weekend.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 27, 2023
Stay safe and informed: https://t.co/9g3lQ7lQ8k pic.twitter.com/z786t26Q8O
Ireland braced for the full force of Storm Darragh on Friday night, with a rare red wind warning issued for seven counties and an orange warning in place nationwide. The powerful storm, bringing gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour, prompted a nationwide emergency alert sent to millions of mobile phones.
The alert, the largest deployment of the system outside a test scenario, sounded a siren-like alarm on compatible devices across the affected areas, urging residents to take precautions and stay safe. “A red weather warning does mean do not travel during that period of time,” outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris emphasized. “Even though it is a Friday night and coming up to the Christmas season, I’d really encourage people to heed that advice and indeed to follow closely weather advice in the hours ahead.”
The Met Office, the UK’s meteorological agency, issued the red warning, its most serious designation, indicating a high risk of dangerous weather and urging residents to take immediate action to protect themselves.
“It is significant people take these warnings very, very seriously in terms of protecting life in the hours ahead,” Harris added, noting that an orange warning was also in effect for the rest of the country, advising against unnecessary travel.
The storm’s impact was already being felt, with strong winds lashing the southwest coast. “Gusting to 100kmh at Sherkin Island on Southwest coast already but a break in the heavy rain for a little while for most,” tweeted Carlow Weather, a popular Irish weather service. “Winds will steadily pick up over coming hours with strongest moving into Southwest & West and then across the country. Worst between 9pm & 6am #StormDarragh.”
An Post, Ireland’s postal service, warned of potential disruptions to its operations on Saturday, stating, “We will get your post to you as soon as it is safe to do so.”
As Storm Darragh raged,Irish authorities and emergency services remained on high alert,closely monitoring the situation and urging residents to prioritize safety.
The storm served as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of heeding weather warnings.
Ireland is bracing for the impact of Storm Darragh, with severe weather warnings issued across the country. The storm, expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain, has prompted several organizations to announce service disruptions and closures.
An Post, Ireland’s postal service, has warned that mail delivery and collection services will be impacted nationwide on december 6th and 7th due to Red and Orange weather warnings. “There will be no deliveries during the red warning in the counties affected,” an Post stated. “We will get your post to you as soon as it is indeed safe to do so.”
Gas Networks Ireland, which manages the country’s gas network, reassured its 720,000 customers that it does not anticipate any disruptions to gas supplies. “All works are currently scheduled to take place as normal,” the company said in a statement. “Though, as the safety of our staff, customers, and the public is paramount, our teams will assess conditions locally and may defer some work if required for safety reasons.” Gas Networks Ireland emphasized that its emergency services will continue to operate as usual, urging anyone who smells gas to call 1800 20 50 50 immediately.
Dublin Airport expects a wet and windy night but remains hopeful for minimal disruption to passengers. Graeme McQueen, media relations manager at daa, stated, “Operations are moving well so far this evening and we expect that to continue for the remainder of the night. we also anticipate running a full schedule on Saturday morning.”
While the highest winds are not expected until after midnight, a quieter period for flight movements, McQueen acknowledged the possibility of some go-arounds depending on conditions. “Though, the forecast suggests that wind directions will be favorable and will blow along our two main runways, as opposed to across them which would make things more challenging and possibly see us having to use our crosswind runway,” he explained.
Dublin Airport may see diversions from other airports more severely affected by the storm. McQueen advised passengers to stay in contact with their airlines for updates regarding specific flights.
The Christmas market at Dublin Castle may close early on Friday evening as a precaution. Organizers announced that the market will open at 1 pm on Saturday, rather than its usual 12 pm opening time. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is advising the public to check its website throughout the weekend for potential site closures.
Several bus services in Limerick, galway, Mayo, donegal, Sligo, and Wicklow have been affected or canceled due to the storm. Transport for Ireland (TFI) urges the public to check its website for updates before traveling.
Ireland is bracing for the impact of Storm Darragh, with officials warning of “very violent, storm force conditions” and urging residents in affected areas to stay indoors. The storm,which is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain,has already prompted the cancellation of several ferry services and caused some flight disruptions.
Keith Leonard, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “There’s going to be very, very violent, storm force conditions across those counties,” referring to areas under red alert. While he acknowledged that conditions will be challenging nationwide, he highlighted wind as the primary threat, with speeds reaching orange levels – “which are very severe levels of wind” – across the country.
The storm’s impact is most pronounced at sea, with several Irish ferry services cancelled for Friday and Saturday. Irish Ferries announced the suspension of multiple routes, including sailings between Cherbourg and Dublin, as well as Rosslare and Pembroke. Stena Line also cancelled all Dublin-Holyhead services for Saturday, along with several other routes connecting Ireland to the UK and France.Passengers are advised to check the latest updates on ferry company websites.
While air travel has been less affected so far, Cork Airport reported three flight cancellations as of 4 p.m. on Friday,including two outbound flights to Bristol and Amsterdam,and one inbound flight from Amsterdam. The airport urged passengers to confirm their flight status directly with their airline and to exercise caution when traveling to and from the airport. Ireland West airport in County Mayo also reported some delays to arriving flights.
Irish Rail, the national railway operator, reassured passengers that all services are planned to operate as scheduled. However, they acknowledged the possibility of alterations due to weather conditions and pledged to provide updates on their X (formerly Twitter) account throughout the storm.
“Amiable reminder that I am not Martin King 😅
All services are planned to operate. though,if there are any alterations to regular scheduling due to poor weather conditions. Myself and my colleagues will provide updates here on X throughout today & tomorrow. -AD #stormdarragh pic.twitter.com/W8lhiIUU9W
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) december 6, 2024
as Storm Darragh continues to batter Ireland, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, follow official guidance, and prioritize safety.
Ireland braced for the impact of Storm Darragh on Friday, with authorities issuing warnings and preparing for potential disruptions to essential services. The storm, packing strong winds and heavy rain, threatened to cause widespread damage and power outages across the country.
Ireland West Airport Knock assured the public that they had a comprehensive plan in place to mitigate the storm’s effects. “We have an operational plan in place for weather warnings which details checks and actions to ensure we reduce the risk and potential safety issues towards staff, building structures and aerodrome equipment and facilities,” the airport stated.
The Department of Social Protection announced the activation of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to support those whose homes might be directly affected by the storm. This scheme provides income-tested financial aid to individuals facing the costs of essential repairs due to severe weather damage.
Details about the scheme, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, can be found on the government website: gov.ie.
ESB,Ireland’s electricity provider,mobilized crews and contractors nationwide in anticipation of the storm’s impact. They urged customers to prepare for potential power outages by having torches, spare batteries, and fully charged mobile phones readily available.
Uisce Éireann, the national water utility, also took proactive measures to minimize disruptions to water and wastewater services. They deployed generators at key sites vulnerable to power outages and warned that some service interruptions were likely, particularly in areas experiencing electricity loss.
“Due to the severity of the storm, it is indeed likely that there will be some disruption to water and wastewater services in certain locations, particularly if electricity supply is affected,” Uisce Éireann stated.
Margaret Attridge, Head of Water Operations at Uisce Éireann, emphasized the company’s commitment to restoring services as quickly as possible. “While we have put contingency measures in place, such as backup generators, it is likely there will be some disruption to supplies, particularly in locations where power is out. If this happens, our crews will be deployed once it is safe to do so to restore supply as quickly as possible,” she said.
As Storm darragh made landfall, a man braved the blustery conditions along a sea wall in Dublin, offering a stark visual reminder of the storm’s power.
Storm Darragh is set to batter Ireland and parts of europe this weekend, prompting cancellations and safety warnings. Dublin’s popular St Anne’s Park farmers market in Clontarf has been called off for Saturday due to an orange weather warning issued for the city.
While Irish airports have yet to report major disruptions, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, a major European hub, has cancelled over 100 flights due to strong winds associated with the storm. “Due to strong winds caused by Storm Darragh, fewer flights are expected to take off and land Friday 6 December,” Schiphol said in a statement, urging passengers to anticipate delays and cancellations.
“heavy wind gusts are expected throughout most of the country on Friday morning,” the Royal Netherlands Meteorological institute added.
In Ireland, ESB Networks is warning the public about the dangers of downed power lines. They urge people to stay clear of any fallen cables and report them immediately to ESB Emergency Services at 1800 372 999. For updates on power restoration times, people can visit powercheck.ie.
The public is advised to ensure their mobile phones are fully charged to maintain communication and to monitor met Éireann forecasts or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the latest weather updates.
Ireland is bracing for the impact of Storm Darragh, a powerful weather system expected to bring dangerously strong winds and heavy rain this Christmas weekend. The storm, which is forecast to hit the country on Friday evening, has prompted authorities to issue severe weather warnings and urge the public to take precautions.
A Status Red wind warning,the highest level of alert,has been issued for counties Donegal,Mayo,Galway,Leitrim,Sligo,Roscommon,Clare,Kerry,and Cork. These areas are expected to experience “extremely strong and gusty” northwest winds, with gusts potentially exceeding 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour).
“The public are advised to not travel in areas where a red level warning is in place and to shelter in place during these times,” a joint statement from the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), Met Éireann, and other stakeholders said.
“Storm Darragh is forecast to bring damaging winds and very dangerous travelling conditions. the advice to the public is not to travel at all in areas where a red warning is in place.”
keith Leonard, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management
Leonard emphasized the potential dangers posed by the storm, particularly for those planning Christmas festivities. “I’m conscious that we are in Christmas party season, so it is particularly important that anyone planning a night out is aware of the forecasted conditions in their area.We are likely to see some of the most dangerous winds from 10pm tonight into the early hours,” he warned.
Along with the red warning, a Status Yellow rain warning is in effect for nine counties, raising concerns about localized flooding. Bus Éireann has announced the cancellation of numerous services in counties under the red warning, urging passengers to check their website for updates.
The Irish Coast Guard has also issued a safety appeal, urging people to “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry” and avoid coastal areas during the storm.
As Storm darragh approaches, Irish residents are urged to stay informed about weather updates, heed official warnings, and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this potentially hazardous Christmas weekend.
Ireland is bracing for a powerful storm expected to batter the country with strong winds and heavy rain this weekend. Met Éireann,the Irish Meteorological Service,has issued a Status red wind warning,the highest level of alert,for several counties.
The warning is in effect from 7 p.m. Friday for Donegal, leitrim, Sligo, Wicklow, Clare, Galway, and Mayo, extending to Leinster, Cavan, and Monaghan two hours later. The alert will expire at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
“Status Red – Wind warning for Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Wicklow, Clare, Galway, Mayo,” Met Éireann announced on Twitter.“Impacts: • Fallen trees • Damage to power lines • Dangerous travelling conditions • Structural damage to temporary structures • Wave overtopping https://t.co/w5QtJ1UyEP pic.twitter.com/292mvLNVsg”
The forecaster warns of potential impacts in the affected counties, including fallen trees, damage to power lines, “very tough” travel conditions, damage to temporary structures, and wave overtopping.
The UK’s Met Office has also issued an amber wind warning for all six counties in Northern Ireland, valid from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Met Éireann predicts that the storm may bring “severe and damaging gusts” on Friday night, reaching storm force at times near coastal areas. Localized flooding is also a risk.
A separate yellow rain warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. on Friday, impacting counties in Connacht, as well as counties Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, and Clare. This warning will expire on 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Residents in the affected areas are urged to take precautions and stay informed about the latest weather updates.
This is a well-written news article about Storm Darragh’s impact on Ireland. Here are some of its strengths:
* **Clarity and Conciseness:** The article gets straight to the point, clearly stating the storm’s name, potential impact, and areas affected.
* **Informative:** It provides essential information such as specific warnings, flight cancellations, safety advice, and relevant links.
* **Use of Quotes:** The quote from Keith Leonard adds authority and emphasizes the seriousness of the situation.
* **Structure:** The article is well-structured with paragraphs logically following each other, making it easy to read and understand.
* **visual Aid:** the inclusion of an image helps to illustrate the potential severity of the storm.
**Suggestions for enhancement:**
* **Impact on Transportation:** While the article mentions flight cancellations and some bus cancellations, it could expand on the potential disruptions to other transportation modes like trains and ferries.
* **Specific Examples of Safety precautions:** Instead of just urging people to take precautions, the article could provide specific examples such as securing outdoor furniture, stocking up on supplies, and having emergency contact information readily available.
* **Economic Impact:** Briefly mentioning the potential economic impact of the storm,such as business closures and agricultural damage,could add another dimension to the article.
this is a well-written and informative news article that effectively conveys the potential dangers and disruptions caused by Storm Darragh.
