BREAKING: Storm Éowyn Met Éireann Status Red to shutdown Laois

Met Éireann has extended its Status Red Storm Éowyn weather warning to Laois and neighbouring counties with the forecaster warning the public of a danger to Laois from what is set to be a historic weather event.

The forecaster included Laois and a host of other counties in its Status Red zone at about 3.10 pm on Friday, January 22 hours after the county was given an orange alert.

The County is part of a Status Red that includes Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon, Tipperary.

It says Storm Éowyn will bring gale to storm force southwest to west winds will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h

• The impacts are impacts:
• Danger to life
• Extremely dangerous travelling conditions
• Unsafe working conditions
• Disruption and cancellations to transport
• Many fallen trees
• Significant and widespread power outages
• Impacts to communications networks
• Cancellation of event
• Structural damage
• Wave overtopping
• Coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas

The alert is valid from 6am to 12 noon on Friday.

The alert was issued: 15:10 Wednesday 22/01/2025

Status Red warning is issued when there are rare and very dangerous weather conditions from intense meteorological phenomena. 

Met Éireann urges poeole to take action to protect yourself and your property in such circumstances. The public is asked to follow instructions and advice given by the authorities under all circumstances and be prepared for exceptional measures.

It warns of gale force southerly winds becoming westerly will bring severe, damaging and destructive gusts of up to 130km/h widely, with even higher gusts for a time.

• Impacts:
• Fallen trees
• Damage to power lines and power outages
• Structural damage
• Very difficult travelling conditions
• Disruption and cancellations to transport
• Wave overtopping

It is val from 2am to 5pm on Friday, January 24.