New weather warning issued for three counties

It's not just rain, folks. It's wind.

Met Éireann has added a fresh status yellow weather warning to one issued earlier on today, advising that three counties are at risk of localised flooding due to high-speed winds. The latest warning, which was published at 2pm on Thursday (20 January) affects Donegal, Galway and Mayo. Mayo and Donegal were also included in the rainfall warning issued earlier this morning. The new notice reads: "Southwesterly winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h at times during the period, with gusts of 80 to 95km/h and a slight risk of localised coastal flooding." Much like the original warning, the wind warning will also remain in effect from 3am on Friday until 3am on Saturday. A rainfall warning issued earlier for Mayo, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo noted that the four counties are "set to endure 25 to 35mm of rain but with the ground saturated at the moment and river levels elevated, the forecast may lead to some localised surface and river flooding." There is also a gale warning in effect for coastal areas, which states: "Tonight and Friday morning, southwesterly winds will increase to gale force 8 on all Irish Coastal Waters and on the Irish Sea, reaching strong gale force 9 at times in the northwest."