Storm Amy: Fresh status orange warning issued with gale force winds to hit Ireland

Waves crash over Garrettstown, Co Cork. File picture: Denis Minihane.

Multiple status orange and status yellow rain and wind warnings have been issued by Met Éireann as Storm Amy, the first named storm of the new storm season, hits Ireland.

The worst of the storm will be seen on Friday, with two warnings issued, but three warnings are currently in place for Thursday. 

Co Kerry is under a status orange rain warning until 8pm on Thursday, with the county set to see heavy spells of rain. The county can expect to see flooding and very difficult travelling conditions. 

A status yellow rain warning is also in place for the rest of Munster, Connacht, Cavan, Donegal, and Longford. The yellow warning is for “widespread rain”, localised flooding, and difficult travel conditions across affected areas. The warning will remain in effect until 8pm on Thursday.

Connacht is also under a status yellow thunderstorm warning, which will be in place until 2pm, bringing the possibility of lightning damage. 

On Friday, the country is expected to see the worst impacts of Storm Amy, with Met Éireann issuing both status orange and yellow warnings. 

A status orange wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo will be in place from 2pm on Friday until 10pm. Met Éireann is warning of "near gale force to gale force and very gusty southwest to west winds".

The impacts include: 

• Fallen trees;
• Damage to power lines and possible power outages;
• Very difficult travelling conditions;
• Possible wave overtopping.

Meanwhile, a status yellow wind warning will be in place from midday on Friday for a 12-hour period for the entire country. 

According to Met Éireann, the storm will bring “strong to near gale force and gusty southwesterly winds” nationwide on Friday, creating hazardous travel conditions, displaced debris and loose objects, and a risk of uprooted or fallen trees in some areas.

The weather is only set to improve marginally over the weekend. The winds are forecast to remain gusty through to Saturday, though the rainfall is expected to ease somewhat. Into next week, Met Éireann said current indications suggest that it will remain unsettled with further spells of rain.

On Saturday, Donegal will be under a status yellow wind and rain warning from midnight until midday. 

Speaking about Storm Amy, meteorologist Ailís Hankinson said: "It is the first storm of the season, so it’s essential to be prepared for potential impacts caused by the strong winds and the rain. There could be difficult travelling conditions, loose objects or flying debris. 

"Trees are still in leaf at this time of the year, so there could be higher impacts from fallen trees and leaves blocking drains, causing localised flooding. Small, upland river catchments are the most at risk of flooding, so precautions for potential localised flooding in these areas are also important.

The forecaster says the warnings are likely to be updated “as certainty increases," noting that the wind warnings could be extended into Saturday for parts of the north west.

Impacts of the storm will include:

• Localised flooding, the heavy rain will fall on already saturated grounds, with river levels increasing. Smaller upland catchments in the South-West and West are at the greatest risk of flooding, as mountainous areas are currently forecasted to see the greater rainfall accumulations.
• Difficult or dangerous travelling conditions 
• Debris, displaced objects 
• Fallen trees 
• Surface water flooding, as the ground is saturated countrywide. Trees are in leaf at the moment so fallen leaves and other debris may block drains and small rivers, increasing the risk of surface water flooding.
• Isolated spray overtopping: even if we’re in a period of neap tides, strong onshore winds and significant waves from Storm Amy may cause isolated spray overtopping at times of high tide along the West coast.
  Storm

National outlook

More generally, Thursday is forecast to be “wet and blustery” with heavy rain possibly leading to localised flooding. Highs will range from 13C to 17C.

From Thursday onwards, conditions will turn “very unsettled and wet.”

Thursday night will see rain clear eastwards early, followed by scattered showers and some clear spells. Cloud will thicken in the west and south later, with patchy rain near southwest coasts by morning. Lows will range from 9C to 12C in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Friday is forecast to be a “wet and very windy day” with heavy rain spreading northeast in the morning. Strong to near gale force southwesterly winds will develop, with gales or strong gales along western and northwestern coasts. Highs will range from 15C to 19C.

Friday night is expected to remain windy, with heavy showers or longer spells of rain. Strong to near gale force winds, with gales on western coasts, will gradually ease as winds turn westerly by Saturday morning.

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