What to expect in this area during Storm Jorge

UPDATED AT 4.30PM

 

The Status Orange wind warning has been extended to  Offaly for parts of tomorrow.

An orange wind warning is now in operation for Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow from 1pm to 7pm Saturday.

According to Met Eireann, in this region, westerly winds will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80km/h for a time on Saturday afternoon and early evening with gusts of 110 to 120km/h, possibly higher in very exposed areas.

Storm Jorge will move West to East across the country, from Saturday morning through to Sunday morning, potentially bringing strong winds, rain and the threat of coastal flooding.

A yellow warning, which had been place for local counties, including Offaly, across much of Saturday remains in place between 9am and 1pm.

During this period, southwesterly winds of mean speeds 50 to 65km/h on Saturday morning with gusts of 90 to 110km/h are expected.

The orange wind warning then comes into effect at 1pm.

There is a yellow rainfall warning for for Munster, Connacht and Donegal in operation currently until midnight on Saturday.
Met Eireann says this warning means there is a continuing risk of flooding due to already saturated ground and elevated river levels.

More severe orange wind warnings are in place for parts of Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday morning for Galway, Mayo, Clare and Kerry, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

It's likely the warnings will be updated during this evening (Friday).

The National Emergency Coordination Group which met today warned that Storm Jorge will make conditions for all responders involved in ongoing flooding situations very hazardous tomorrow.

It said ESB Networks have taken action and are ready to mobilise responses to restore power once the impact of the storm is known. The Powercheck app will enable users to gather updates on estimated restoration times. Safety regarding fallen lines will be communicated also.

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection are on standby with their Community Welfare Officers ready to assist with damage and recovery due to the impacts of flooding and the storm.

Defence Forces troops are on standby and available to assist in the response if and when required.

Civil Defence personnel are on standby to assist where required.

 

Key Public Safety & Information Messages

People are asked to check on isolated and vulnerable neighbours in advance of the storm tomorrow.

The public are again reminded to monitor Met Éireann forecasts for their area and to be aware of the weather conditions and to heed safety warnings. Information is available across social media platforms and other traditional media sources.

In areas affected it is likely there will be:

High seas; the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period.

Very strong winds are predicted which will make driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and high sided vehicles. Road users should be aware of hazardous travelling conditions. Motorists should slow down and be aware of the dangers of fallen trees, debris and high flood waters.

An Garda Siochána emphasised the dangerous driving conditions over the next 24 hours and asked people to place safety as a key priority over the coming days.

It is critical that people prioritise their safety and never touch or approach fallen wires, stay safe and stay clear of fallen or damaged electricity wires and contact the ESB on 1850 372 999

Keep your mobile phone charged. Mobile phones can connect to the 999 service on any operators network so even where you do not have coverage on your own network it may still be possible to make a 999 call.

Follow HSA safety advice regarding the use of tools and equipment during and after the storm.

The National Emergency Coordination Group is monitoring the situation and will meet again on Saturday at 11am to review the developing situation.