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LAST UPDATE | 3 Oct 2019
PEOPLE ARE BEING warned to stay away from coastal areas today as Storm Lorenzo prepares to make landfall in Ireland this evening.
A yellow wind warning for the Republic of Ireland is valid until 6pm this evening, with Met Éireann saying that south-easterly winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/hr with gusts of 90 to 100km/hr.
An orange level wind warning will be in place for five counties, taking effect from 6pm this evening. This warning applies to Galway, Mayo, Clare, Kerry and Limerick.
From 6pm this evening, the yellow wind warning will remain in place for Cork, Waterford, Tipperary and Wexford.
The Status Yellow rainfall warning for Connacht, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal which has been in place since 9am today will last until 6am tomorrow morning, bringing spells of heavy rain and potential spot flooding tonight.
Met Éireann has warned that someone died during a Status Orange weather warning last year, so it is important to get the public service message out there.
Speaking at the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting this afternoon, Evelyn Cusack, Met Éireann’s head of forecasting, said the heaviest rain will be in the north and midlands.
The storm will track across the country, with 20 to 60mm of rain expected, she said.
Minister Eoghan Murphy has this afternoon said the primary concern is the west and northwest coast, where there is a threat of wave surges and coastal flooding.
“Extremely high seas are predicted later today and into this evening, with 9pm today being the key time,” Murphy said.
He has warned the public to “stay away from coastal areas”.
It’s not just a question of not being in the sea. Stay away from the shoreline and the coast – stay back, stay high and stay dry.
In Limerick, one of the counties set to be worst hit by Lorenzo, temporary flood defences have been put in place along the quays and strands as a precaution.
“We do not expect any estuarine flooding based on current predictions,” the council said.
All outpatient appointments and elective surgeries at University Limerick Hospital Group sites will continue as normal today, as hospital management continues to monitor the progress of Lorenzo.
However, ahead of the arrival of the storm, the hospital group has begun discharging as many patients as possible.
Meanwhile, Galway City Council has installed an inflatable barrier at Spanish Arch in advance of Lorenzo.
20,000 sandbags have been put in place in three locations in the city. Salthill Road and the Seapoint Promenade (from Grattan Road to Blackrock) will be closed from 5pm.
As a precaution, the council are also closing Rosshill Road from 5pm due to a large number of trees in the area.
Defence Force troops are in Galway and are on standby to assist. Galway City Council is working with emergency service providers to ensure emergency accommodation is provided to rough sleepers.
In Kerry, the local emergency group met yesterday and warned of fallen trees, debris on roads and power outages. Radio Kerry also reported that IT Tralee is to close early today due to the storm.
In Cork, the cable car has been suspended.
Mayo County Council issued a flood alert this morning. Clare Bay, Westport, Belmullet and Achill Island are all of concern.
Fallen trees
The Health and Safety Authority has reminded the public that two people lost their lives during Storm Ophelia while cutting and clearing windblown trees.
The most common cause of fatalities is clearing fallen trees and branches using chainsaws, according to the HSA.
It is warning the public:
The HSA is advising anyone encountering fallen trees not to try to clear or fell such trees.
Instead, they should contact their local authority who have expert trained crews with specialist equipment to deal with storm damaged and windblown trees.
Any work at height, such as repair of overhead lines or the roofs of farm buildings, should also be undertaken with extreme caution in mind. Repair of roofs should only be done after Storm Lorenzo has been cleared and a risk assessment has been carried out, the HSA warned.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service had advised the public not to visit any national parks, national monuments or nature reserves while the Status Orange warning is in place.
The following locations will be closed until tomorrow:
Travel
Along the west coast, gardaí urged motorists to avoid coastal areas, and to anticipate strong cross winds and hazards such as falling trees when driving.
Commuters have also been warned that they may have to begin their journeys a bit earlier tomorrow as delays are expected.
Very strong winds are predicted which will make driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users.
Road users have been asked to pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.
Seas have been rough so far today. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution have advised people to take note of the weather forecast and to stay back, stay dry and stay high from the water.
If you see someone in difficulty or are concerned about a person close to the water, use marine frequency VHF channel 16 or dial 112 on your phone and ask for the coast guard.
Water
The HSE has warned that people with private wells and shared water schemes might be impacted due to loss of power or moving flood waters resulting from Storm Lorenzo.
It explained how people’s water supplies might be restricted:
Looking ahead, Lorenzo is set to leave the country early Friday morning with tomorrow evening looking set to be dry with some sunshine breaking through.
With reporting by Hayley Halpin Christina Finn and Adam Daly
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“The wind warning for Ireland is valid until 6pm this evening” ?? I thought 6pm was when the shi t was going to hit the fan ??
@Malachi Shanks: They’d want to take a sharpie to that sentence good and quick.
@Malachi Shanks: because the storm loses most of its strength as it crosses the country
I have a feeling they don’t know what they are talking about
Tonight at around 2200 hours will be the worse time with the high tides and if it’s West or south west gale’s for the west coast I live on the west coast and I have seen storms a lot worse than this so called tropical storm and no warns given about the strength of them
Remember hurricane Stephen 110 miles recorded
Now they have the army coast guard’s navy Garda met eirrenn the government and God knows how many more given out about 100km wind’s
On saying that it’s not safe to venture out near the sea in high tides and windy conditions
Stay safe folks until this gale passes by
@John gaughan: exactly John… I’m not a meteorologist but i don’t like the look of it, if this is just a yellow wind warning. We’re told it won’t be as bad as Ophelia but that wasn’t as bad in places.
Hopefully it won’t reach over 100km.
@John gaughan: they know exactly what they are talking about. They know they cant be 100%, they know itll be bad in places and are telling everyone to be prepared….just in case. Its already a bit rough around the east coast and we’re no where near where it’s likely to hit. So give over on your whinging and take charge of the operation….as you appear to be best qualified.
@Paul Furey: yes I know what I am talking about plus I am not whinging just stating a few facts
No one can predict the exact strength of the exact Couse of this gale maybe storm
I can assure you if this storm was hitting the East coast the country would be on lockdown
So you stay safe in that breeze
@John gaughan: Ah now in fairness the country would be treated the same if this storm was hitting the East Coast. Bit of a mad statement tbh
@John gaughan: you sound like an idiot.
You say you “have a feeling they don’t know what their on about”
Lord Jesus what next
@John gaughan: yea Stephen roche
He was great on a he hills too
Beer and bread at the ready.
@bozharry: you’re new here? You probably dont realise that bread is hilariously referred to here….all the time. Good man.
@Paul Furey: i Love the Bread.
@Paul Furey: also is the bread shortage due to the snow, where did a bit of wind come into bread shortages?
@bozharry: Beer on Bread, save time for when s**! hits the fan!
Looks like rain, Ted.
RTE post warnings on their News page, to stay away from shorelines then show a selfie from their Kerry Correspondent doing exactly the opposite?
Yeesss, 6 northern counties are still not going to be affected.
@Levante Dublin: why would you care about the weather forecast in another country?
@Levante Dublin: Check the UK Met Office.
@joe: oooooo many dreamers wont like that:)
@Levante Dublin: well yeah most of em are looking at weather forecasts from 1690
A grand soft day
It’s amazing that people need to be told to stay away from the coast.
@Ed: probably better to tell them to go for walk round the harbour or maybe a nice hike up the mountains.
You know they will stay at home then!
Sorry is it just me or is Evelyn Cusack not good at getting info across
This storm was scaremongering over nothing again.
@Mike Conway: Surely its better to have people over prepared and safe, rather than under prepared and dead?
@Mike Conway: feeling stupid now? Get yourself a job in the met office. You know it all
@Mike Conway: Your comment is way premature. Not going to see it’s force until later tonight.
Don’t take any unnecessary journeys.
Don’t take risks on treacherous roads…
@Fiona Fitzgerald: AND DON’T SWIM IN THE SEA!!!!!!!
I think you mean South Westerly winds NOT South easterly.
@Marie O’Shea: seems to be southeastly at the moment in wicklow’/dublin area
@Marie O’Shea: coming from the south east in Kerry at the moment..it’s wicked
@Marie O’Shea: Its spinning anti clockwise, winds over Ireland are pulling in air from the south east. https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1179333407760949249
Maybe look for your money back on the meteorological degree.
@Alan Carthy: I live in the south west and that is the wind direction here
@Darren Byrne: I live in the south west and that is the wind direction here. In another report else where it’s also states southwesterly.
@Marie O’Shea: ya done need a report to ses were its blowing just look at the winds
Or if in a city look at what way the cranes are facing n it the direction its blown
Latest forecast for storm lorenzo
https://youtu.be/x8blH6AE4JQ
We should all just gather in Athlone
Good day for the drying..
@Gerard hayes:
‘There’ll be something in the air tonight, the air will be wild, Lorenzo…’
I think I’d believe what a politician tells me more than the weather forecast these days. Drama free get nothing as usual.
oh get lost
have your say