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08th Feb 2019

Met Éireann explain why they name storms as Storm Erik hits Ireland

Alan Loughnane

schools closed storm Lorenzo

Batten down the hatches.

Met Éireann on Thursday issued four separate weather warnings for Ireland, two Status Orange and two Status Yellow ahead of Storm Erik.

Two Status Orange wind warnings were put in place for Galway, Mayo and Donegal, with some severe or damaging gusts of 110 to 130 km/h expected, while there’s also a Status Yellow rain warning in place for Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.

There’s also a Status Yellow wind warning in place for the rest of Ireland as Storm Erik is expected to pass over Ireland on Friday and into early Saturday.

Met Éireann has released an explainer video this week to show why they have started naming storms in recent years in conjunction with the Met Office in the UK.

Storms in Ireland in partnership with the UK have been named since 2015 and the names are compiled in a list by Met Éireann and the Met Office with suggestions from the public.

Meterologist Evelyn Cusack said: “By giving a weather event a reference point and a character, people find it easier to be aware of them.

“So rather than saying, for example, winds will reach 130km/h, we can say that Storm Stephen will move in over Ireland giving us very severe and damaging gusts.

“This gets the message across better than giving just actual numbers.

“The duty forecaster here in Glasnevin and the chief forecaster in the UK Met Office name a storm when Status Orange or Status Red wind thresholds are expected,” Cusack said.

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