Severe weather to delay travellers
Met Éireann issued an Orange wind warning, with gusts of 100km/h to 130km/h forecast, with a “vigorous Atlantic storm” expected last night and for a period today. The outlook remains changeable over the next several days with further wintry showers, sharp frost and icy patches forecast early in the week. Present indications show that severe and possibly damaging winds are forecast later in the week with a risk of spot flooding in parts of the country.
Irish Ferries cancelled its Jonathan Swift Fast Ferry sailings between Dublin and Holyhead yesterday due to stormy conditions on the Irish Sea.
AA Roadwatch has advised motorists to take “extreme care” on the roads and to watch out for debris.
In Galway, the Promenade in Salthill closed from 2pm yesterday due to the expected stormy conditions and the possibility of flooding. It is expected that the road will reopen on St Stephen’s Day, weather permitting.
The Road Safety Authority has also asked all road users to be extremely careful while using the roads over the coming days.
The ESB has said it has plans in place to deal with any power outages caused by poor weather over the Christmas period.
Meanwhile, bookmakers have slashed Ireland’s white Christmas odds to 4/1 last night, after forecasters warned of snow flurries on Christmas Eve and a cold Christmas Day with snow threatening.
Met Éireann forecast pre-Christmas storms risking disruption to travellers’ journeys home for the festive season, with “wintry showers” today threatening the north-west, and a cold, showery Christmas Day.
William Hill cut white Christmas odds to 3/1 in Belfast and 4/1 in Dublin.
“Cold, very windy and showery on Christmas Eve, some showers possibly wintry on higher ground of the north-west. Cold and frosty overnight. Latest indications suggest a frosty start to Christmas morning. The day is expected to be cold and bright.”
