Government advising schools and third level institutions to close in counties with orange or red weather warnings ahead of Storm Barra

12 counties currently have red or orange weather warnings.

The Department of Education has recommended that schools and third level institutions should close in areas with orange or red weather warnings on Tuesday (7 December). The statement comes as Met Éireann predicts coastal flooding and dangerous conditions in the country tomorrow. Head of Forecasting for Met Éireann described the incoming storm as a "significant and severe" weather event, which could be described as a "weather bomb". "We'd ask people to be very careful tomorrow and take preventative action today – tie everything down, take in furniture... but the storm is likely to hit the west coast just before 4am or 5am, certainly before dawn, and quickly extend across the country tomorrow morning," Cusack said on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 on Monday. The Department of Education shared the statement on their website. "A Red Alert has now been issued by Met Éireann relating to severe wind for counties Clare, Kerry, and Cork," the Department of Education said. " A status orange warning has issued for counties Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, East Meath. "Met Éireann has advised that there is a strong possibility that the status of parts of these counties currently in status orange are likely to change and escalate to status red. "Due to the significant nature of Storm Barra, as forecast by Met Éireann and to give sufficient notice to schools and parents/guardians, the Department is advising that all schools covered by the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann should not open tomorrow, 7 December. "All schools should 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," they concluded. https://twitter.com/DeptofFHed/status/1467927534352453641?s=20 Disruptions to power and travel are expected, with Cork Airport having cancelled morning flights to Amsterdam and London Heathrow on Tuesday. The Gardaí have warned the public not to make any unnecessary journeys in areas with red or orange weather warnings. Met Éireann are continuing to monitor the situation, and members of the public are being advised to check their website regularly for any further updates.