Muireann Duffy
A series of weather warnings have been updated ahead of the arrival of Storm Kathleen this weekend.
Five counties will be covered by a status orange warning for wind on Saturday: Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway and Mayo.
The warning for the Munster counties will begin at 7am on Saturday and remain in place until 2pm on Saturday afternoon.
For Galway and Mayo, the alert will not commence until 9am on Saturday, lasting until 6pm that evening.
Met Éireann warned the storm will bring gale force southerly winds, with some severe and damaging gusts.
⚠️Orange weather warning updated ⚠️
Status Orange - Wind warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford
Valid : 07:00 Saturday to 14:00 SaturdayStatus Orange - Wind warning for Galway and Mayo
Valid: 09:00 Saturday to 18:00 SaturdayKeep up to date here⬇️https://t.co/t2JoveRUyC pic.twitter.com/PTOdsUGohB
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) April 5, 2024
Very difficult travel conditions are expected in the affected counties, with the possibility of hazards such as fallen trees.
Coastal flooding and wave overtopping may impact coastal areas, while power outages may be caused by the high winds.
The entire country will also be placed under a yellow alert for wind from 5am on Saturday, which will remain in force until 8pm on Saturday evening.
A similar alert has also been issued by the UK Met Office for Northern Ireland, covering the six counties from 8am to 10pm on Saturday.
Very strong and gusty southerly winds will be felt across the island for the duration of Storm Kathleen.
Briefing
With difficult travel conditions expected, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has urged road users to exercise caution while travelling during the weather alerts.
Anyone who needs to travel is advised to check local traffic and weather reports before setting off.
The Department of Housing has also said the public should be vigilant and prepare ahead of Strom Kathleen's arrival.
The department said the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) crisis management team convened a Met Éireann technical briefing on Friday morning to assess possible impacts of the storm.
Speaking after the briefing, NDFEM national director Keith Leonard advised: "Given the challenging wind conditions expected, I would urge members of the public to stay away from all coastal areas for the duration of the Met Éireann warnings.
"Also, strong winds can make driving conditions hazardous – especially for the more vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles – and road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris."
He stressed that members of the public should never touch or approach fallen wires, adding: "Be sure to stay safe and stay clear of fallen or damaged electricity wires and, if you encounter any, do contact ESB Networks at 1800-372 999."
Mr Leonard said the team will continue to monitor weather conditions and ensure relevant State bodies respond as required.
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