Ireland braces for impact of Katia winds

IRELAND will feel the effects of the remains of Hurricane Katia from tomorrow night — as forecasters warned of 160km/h winds causing building damage, coastal flooding, uprooted trees and transport chaos.

Met Éireann was last night considering weather warnings after Britain’s Met Office issued a rare extreme weather alert covering all of Ireland, warning of 128km/h winds on Monday causing sea flooding and “phenomenal” ocean conditions.

Irish forecasters predicted winds of up to 160km/h, with the North seeing the worst winds and sea flooding possible in Donegal Bay as well as in the west — in Galway Bay, the Shannon estuary and other harbours — caused by 15-metre waves out in the Atlantic.