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14th Feb 2022

Second storm on the way, and this one could be bringing snow along with it

Dave Hanratty

Storm Eunice Storm Dudley Ireland

A very unsettled week lies ahead.

Typical.

You wait long enough for one storm and two happen along at the same time.

Having issued Status Orange and Status Yellow warnings ahead of Storm Dudley, Met Éireann has now provided details of a second low pressure system set to bring “spells of very strong and damaging winds” to Ireland and the UK this week.

Officially named by the UK Met Office as Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice, the two weather events will also bring heavy rain and the potential for snow along with them.

Storm Dudley is expected on Wednesday, with Storm Eunice to follow on Friday.

“It’s been a fairly quiet year so far but that’s all going to change this week as an active jet stream steers several low-pressure systems across Ireland and the UK,” said Met Éireann meteorologist Emer Flood on Monday.

“On Wednesday Storm Dudley will bring strong winds to mainly northern and western areas, these strong winds in combination with high tides will lead to large coastal waves and some coastal flooding.

“As Storm Dudley clears eastwards on Thursday morning winds will ease for a time, before picking up again on Friday morning as Storm Eunice approaches,” Flood continued.

“We’re keeping a close eye on this storm as there is the potential for more widespread strong winds across Ireland which may lead to some disruption and damage.”

Met Éireann is advising the public to keep a close eye on the overall weather forecast as the week progresses, with further individual warnings likely to be issued.

As for those aforementioned Status Orange and Status Yellow warnings, they are as follows:

A Status Yellow Wind warning has been issued for ClareDonegalGalway, and Mayo from 12pm on Wednesday (16 February) to 12pm on Thursday (17 February).

A combination of high tide and strong winds will lead to some coastal flooding.

The Status Yellow will be escalated to a Status Orange Wind Warning for Donegal between 9pm on Wednesday until 9am on Thursday.

Westerly winds associated with Storm Dudley will reach mean speeds of 65-80km/h with damaging gusts of 100–130km/h, stronger on exposed coasts and on high ground.

The UK Met Office has also issued warnings across the six counties, with Status Yellow Wind warnings in place across Antrim, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Down and Derry.

The Status will increase to Amber in Derry and Antrim from 6pm on Wednesday until 9am on Thursday.

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