STORM BARRA UPDATE - Schools in Red & Orange warning areas advised to close on Wednesday

The Department is advising that all schools that are currently or forecast to be in a Red or Orange alert area should remain closed tomorrow, 8 December.

It said this will allow for assessment of the impact of Storm Barra.

This includes counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Wexford.

Schools who are no longer in a Red or Orange Alert area can reopen provided, if there are concerns, school managers have had an opportunity to check for fallen wires and other serious damage in the vicinity of school buildings.

If an individual school in a yellow area is still experiencing a particular local issue relating to the storm, the Board of Management can make a decision to remain closed for tomorrow.

All schools are advised to keep up to date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.

Sligo IT and LYIT will also be closed on Wednesday

The head of the National Directorate for Fire Emergency Management, Keith Leonard, said he would urge caution and that there could be significant damage to structures tonight.

Around 49,000 homes and business are without power this evening. The places worst affected by power outages are Killybegs, Arklow, Enniscorthy, Killarney, Tralee, and parts of Cork. The number of premises without power reduced from 56,000 earlier in the afternoon.

ESB spokesperson Brian Tapley said it is hoped that the majority of those affected will have their power restored by the end of the day, but said they can only deploy crews when it is safe to do so.

He said crews are currently being deployed to make faults safe, but that the major restoration or repair work will take place when the Red and Orange level warnings have passed meaning some of those will remain without power overnight.

He urged people not to approach fallen electricity lines and if they come across them to treat them as live and contact the ESB Emergency number on 1800 372 999.

Winds across the west, northwest and southwest will increase tonight as severe and damaging winds sweep in from the west as storm Barra clears to the East. People from west Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim will see a notable increase in wind speed with a Orange warning in places from tonight for there.

Wind in some coastal areas there may gust in excess of 130km/hr along coastal area with severe and damaging winds.

Note for our followers in Northern Ireland the Met office UK as removed you from the warning as the worst of the winds have passed there with west Ulster and north Connacht set to see bad conditions later

Storm force winds arrived onto western coasts early this morning, with blizzard conditions for a time in the northwest today.

A wind gust of 159km/h was recorded at Fastnet Lighthouse off the south coast, while another gust of 113km/h was recorded at around 6am on Sherkin Island, located just off Cork's coast.

OVERALL STORM RISKS

Strong winds for all areas
Severe winds and damaging gusts along southwestern, western, southern and eastern coastal counites and possibly along the northwest and southern coastal counites also.
Heavy squally showers leading to hazardous driving conditions
Snowfall in some parts of the west and northwest especially across Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim were this risk looks highest. Hazardous driving conditions and blizzards possible
Storm surge will lead to wave overtopping and a significant possibility of coastal flooding
Disruption to power and travel are likely. Check air, sea, rail and bus information before traveling.
trees down
Structural damage (Secure outdoor furniture and Christmas decorations!)

LATEST WEATHER WARNIGS

Status Red - Wind warning for Cork, Kerry

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Barra: Southwesterly winds later veering northwesterly will reach mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h with severe or damaging gusts in excess of 130km/h. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Valid: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 21:00 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Red - Wind warning for Clare

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Barra: Northwesterly winds will reach mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h with severe or damaging gusts in excess of 130km/h. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Valid: 16:00 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 01:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Orange - Wind warning for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Wexford

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Barra: Southeasterly winds, later veering northwesterly will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h with severe or damaging gusts of 100 to 130 km/h, with localised stronger winds likely, with severe gusts on coasts. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Valid: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 06:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Orange - Wind warning for Leitrim, Sligo

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Barra: Northwesterly winds will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h with severe or damaging gusts of 100 to 130 km/h, with localised stronger winds likely. Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Valid: 20:00 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 08:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Orange - Wind warning for Donegal

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Valid: 02:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021 to 14:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Yellow - Wind and rain warning for Ireland

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Barra will bring widespread mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/h and gusts of 90 to 110 km/h with localised stronger winds likely. Heavy rain will also bring risks of surface flooding and, due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected. Disruption to power and travel are likely.

Valid: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 18:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

LATEST MARINE WARNINGS

TUESDAY

Status Red - Storm warning from Valentia to Slyne Head to Rossan Point

Northwest to north winds will reach violent storm force 11 on Irish coastal waters from Valentia to Slyne Head to Rossan Point.

Valid: 17:40 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 00:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 17:40 Tuesday 07/12/2021

TUESDAY

Status Orange - Storm warning from Rossan Point to Howth Head to Valentia and on the Irish Sea

Cyclonic variable winds will reach storm force 10 on Irish coastal waters from Rossan Point to Howth Head to Valentia and on the Irish Sea.

Valid: 17:40 Tuesday 07/12/2021 to 00:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 17:40 Tuesday 07/12/2021

WEDNESDAY

Status Orange - Storm warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea

Northwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 to storm force 10 Tuesday night and Wednesday on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea.

Valid: 00:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021 to 16:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021

Status Yellow - Gale warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea

Northwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 to strong gale force 9 Wednesday evening and early night on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea.

Valid: 16:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021 to 22:00 Wednesday 08/12/2021

Issued: 12:05 Tuesday 07/12/2021