Storm Boelo: Orange weather warnings for wind and rain issued for Irish counties

Cars pass through floodwater on the Rochestown Road in Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

New weather warnings have been announced for parts of Ireland as the island braces for the impact of two named storms in quick succession.

Impacts are expected to include flooding, difficult travelling conditions and possible power outages.

Around 3,000 homes, farms and businesses in the worst-affected areas were without electricity on Friday morning following strong winds and rain from Storm Austen.

ESB Networks said on Friday morning that crews had been deployed in all areas affected by the power outages.

Further warnings have been issued for Storm Boelo, with the north of the island and the west coast forecast to be most affected by the separate weather system.

All warnings for Ireland associated with Austen, which predominantly affected Munster and Leinster, expired at 10am.

However, Met Éireann, issued five further warnings of varying severity affecting counties along the west coast.

Orange weather warnings for wind and rain 

Met Éireann issued an orange-level wind warning for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 2pm on Saturday until 9am on Sunday.

A separate orange-level rain warning applies to Kerry from 7am to 2pm on Saturday.

A yellow-level rain warning applies to those counties, as well as Clare, Cork, Galway and Limerick, from 4am to 3pm on Saturday.

A yellow-level wind warning will also apply to the five counties in Connacht, along with Clare, Kerry and Limerick, from 1pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday.

A separate yellow-level wind warning will apply to Donegal from 1pm on Saturday until 3pm on Sunday.

Northern Ireland warning 

Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland from 6pm on Saturday until 3pm on Sunday.

The Met Office warned that Storm Boelo could bring gusts of 50 to 60mph across Northern Ireland, rising to 65 to 75mph in exposed areas.