Met Éireann issues two new weather warnings

National weather forecaster Met Éireann issued two new weather warnings this afternoon, with severe winds set to hit many areas of the country.

The warnings, were both issued just before 4pm today, as some heavy snowshowers were reported in many areas of the country.

It's a snow day in Lovely #Leitrim @EcoActiveIrl @leitrimdevco @DoolinDebi @LeitrimToday pic.twitter.com/D4BBDkVsDV /via @TawnylustLodge

— Irish Weather News (@iWeatherNews) January 13, 2015

Serious snow fall in boherbue co.kerry @aaroadwatch #3eWeather pic.twitter.com/pHwfjKJj35

— David Morrissey (@DavidMorrissey5) January 13, 2015

A Status Orange Wind Warning issued for Wexford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.

Here she comes. #StormRachel is less than 24 hours away... http://t.co/OeFvEgKoa9 pic.twitter.com/yt3cr3Vjeu

— Metcheck.com (@MetcheckUK) January 13, 2015

Met Éireann said that southerly winds of mean speeds of 65-80 km/h with gusts of 110-130 km/h will develop on Wednesday afternoon and will continue through the night, when they will veer west to southwest.

Heavy, thundery, wintry showers this eve & tonight with fresh & gusty SW winds. Showers most frequent in W. Lows tonight between -2 & +2C.

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 13, 2015

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly says the windy weather is set to have a much bigger impact than the snow.

“The snow will be gone tomorrow, it’s going to turn to rain through tomorrow,” she said.

“But the winds are coming tomorrow, there’s a very strong storm at seas tomorrow, and the western coasts are going to get a battering.

“So forget about the snow, that’s not important, it’s the winds that are important tomorrow.”

A Status Yellow Wind Warning was also issued for Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon and Tipperary.

“Southerly winds of mean speeds of 50-65 km/h with gusts of 90-110 km/h will develop on Wednesday afternoon and will continue through the night, when they will veer west to southwest,” Met Éireann warned.

Very strong winds from tomorrow PM into Thurs. May also lead to large waves on some coasts of Wales & S Eng. Jo pic.twitter.com/M9qEMSfcz9

— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) January 13, 2015

Both warnings remain in effect until 12 noon on Thursday, January 15.

Three other weather warnings, issued this morning, remain in place.

A Status Orange Snow-ice Warning for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Clare, Kerry and Limerick has forecast wintry, thundery showers of hail, sleet and snow today and overnight with snow accumulations of 4 to 8 cm.

A similar Status Yellow warning is in place for the rest of the country, and both are valid until 9am on Wednesday.

A Rainfall Warning for Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick was issued at 9am this morning, with rainfall totalling 25- 35mm expected to fall by 11pm tomorrow.