Severe weather warnings issued as Storm Darragh approaches Ireland

Met Éireann has issued a status Orange weather warning for several counties over the next two days as Storm Darragh is expected to make its presence known across the country.

A yellow warning is in place for the entire country today, Thursday, from 12pm until 6pm, while a status Orange warning is in place for Clare, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Kerry and Waterford, from 10pm Friday until 9am on Saturday morning.

A status Yellow rain warning is also in place for Clare, Connacht, Donegal, Cavan, Mongahan, Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath from on Friday into Saturday which will possibly bring localised flooding, poor visibility, and difficult travelling conditions

Storm Darragh is set to bring very strong and gusty northwest winds to the whole of Ireland today, with potential impacts including,

• Fallen trees
• Damage to power lines
• Very difficult travelling conditions
• Damage to temporary structures
• Wave overtopping

Status Orange - Wind warning for Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal

Storm Darragh: Very strong and gusty northwest winds.

Impacts:
• Fallen trees
• Damage to power lines
• Very difficult travelling conditions

Valid: 22:00 06/12 to 09:00 Saturday 07/12 pic.twitter.com/SYvNWr7v1B

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 5, 2024

Rain will be heavy in places, with squally winds that will spread eastwards across Ireland today and will gradually clear during the afternoon, followed by scattered showers.

Southerly winds will become west to northwesterly as the rain clears and will increase fresh to strong and very gusty, reaching gale force at times near Atlantic and southern coasts. Highest temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees.

The winds will ease this evening and tonight, and the showers will become isolated with most parts becoming dry. There'll be some clear spells with a chance of some frost and icy patches. A few mist or fog patches too, but it'll become cloudier from the west later. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with light to moderate westerly or variable winds.

Friday

Some early brightness in the north tomorrow. Otherwise it looks like a cloudy day, with rain becoming widespread. Some heavy rain and localised flooding is possible. Some sleet is possible on northern hills. Highest temperatures ranging from 6 to 13 degrees. Becoming very windy.

Moderate southeast winds at first will gradually increase strong and gusty, veering south to southwest later. During the evening, there is the possibility of stormy conditions developing in the west and southwest.

Extremely windy or stormy for a time on Friday night with heavy rain, possibly wintry in some northern areas, giving way to clear spells and occasional showers, some of hail or sleet. Turning colder with winds becoming fresh to strong and gusty northwest winds later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees with some frost and ice likely.

Saturday

It looks set to be cold and windy on Saturday with sunny spells and blustery showers, some of hail and sleet and with some snow showers likely over higher ground.

The showers will be most widespread across the north and west, but will make their way across the country too in fresh to strong and gusty northwest winds. There's a chance of some thunder too, mainly near the north and west coast. Highest temperatures of just 4 to 8 degrees and feeling even colder due to the added wind chill factor.

Cold and breezy on Saturday night with clear spells and further showers, some wintry, with the showers mainly in the north and parts of the west, but becoming more isolated overnight. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, with the chance of some frost and ice in sheltered parts.