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25th Nov 2021

More counties hit with weather warnings as Storm Arwen set to hit Ireland

Stephen Porzio

Nine counties have been issued weather warnings.

Met Éireann has issued another Status Yellow wind warning for Mayo and Sligo as Storm Arwen is set to bring strong winds to Ireland.

The latest warning will come into effect from 3pm on Friday to 5am on Saturday.

It states that through Friday afternoon, evening and night, northerly winds will reach a mean speed of 45 to 65 km/hr with gusts of 90 to 110 km/hr.

The warning also says there is the possibility of “wave and spray overtopping along north facing coasts at times of high tide” on Friday night.

Met Éireann had already issued a Status Yellow wind warning for Donegal which will be valid from 3pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday.

It also warns that northerly winds will reach a mean speed of 45 to 65 km/hr with gusts of 90 to 110 km/hr, but adds that there will be significantly higher gusts at times along north facing coasts and on the Inishowen Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has also issued a Status Yellow wind warning for all of Northern Ireland from 9am on Friday to midnight.

It said high winds may cause “some travel disruption and damage”.

Named by the UK Met Office, Met Éireann says Storm Arwen will track southwards along the east coast of Scotland and England through Friday and Friday night.

As for Ireland, the storm will introduce strong northerly winds and a cool polar maritime air, with the strongest winds expected along northern and north-western coasts.

“It’s going to be a cold and very windy day on Friday,” Met Éireann meteorologist Elizabeth Coleman said in a statement.

“We’ll see north to northwest winds starting to pick up through Thursday night into Friday morning, peaking late Friday afternoon.

“Gale to strong gale force winds are forecast along north facing coasts, generating large coastal waves and spray overtopping.

“Strong northerly winds over land in the north and northwest could bring down some trees and power lines with travel distribution possible.

“This system will generate high seas too, in the north and west through Friday, with the storm force winds and high seas transferring to the Irish Sea on Friday night.”

Met Éireann’s forecast says there will be blustery scattered showers on Friday, which will turn to sleet – mainly in parts of the north – with snow possible over hills.

Daytime temperatures will be limited to around 4 to 9 degrees, but conditions will feel colder with the added wind chill factor from the brisk northerly winds.

Overnight temperatures are expected to fall close to freezing for many areas with frost expected.

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