Batten down the hatches, Lorenzo is coming.
With Storm Lorenzo expected to track close to or over Ireland later this week, three status weather warnings have been issued by Met Éireann.
A status orange wind warning – the second highest category weather warning – has been issued for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick. The warning comes into effect on Thursday at 6pm and will remain in effect until 3am on Friday morning, with storm surges and winds of up to 130 km/h expected to hit the western coastal counties.
The storm surges, Met Éireann says, will produce coastal flooding and damage.
Two status yellow warnings, meanwhile, have been issued for the rest of the Republic of Ireland.
A status yellow wind warning will come into effect at 9am on Thursday morning and remain in place until 6am on Friday morning, while a status yellow rainfall will also come into effect at 9am on Thursday and remain in place for 24 hours.
It is expected that during Thursday evening, the centre of Storm Lorenzo will move closer to the northwest coast with strong southwest gales developing on Atlantic coasts and with strong and gusty winds beginning to extend further inland across Connacht and Munster.
By Thursday night, it will become very windy and stormy in Atlantic coastal counties overnight as winds veer westerly in direction.
There will also be strong showers and a risk of isolated thunderstorms leading to some spot flooding.
Emergency teams are on standby ahead of the arrival of the storm, with Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy saying that the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency management in his department is working with Met Éireann to track the hurricane.
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