‘Don’t risk your life’ – Met Éireann’s Joanna Donnelly urges public to stay away from coasts ahead of Storm Ashley

Counties Galway, Mayo, Clare and Donegal will be under a Status Orange wind warning from 12pm tomorrow until 9pm. Effects will include coastal flooding, large coastal waves, loose objects and fallen trees.

Galway City Council has taken a number of precautions, including flood barriers along the Spanish Arch and the closure of the Silverstrand, Salthill and Toft car parks.

Strong winds in Galway, Mayo, Clare and Donegal will lead to very difficult travelling conditions, dangerous conditions at sea, and damage to power lines and already weakened structures.

A nationwide Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued and will be valid from midnight on Sunday until 3am on Monday. Possible effects will include coastal flooding, large coastal waves, difficult travelling conditions, debris and loose objects being displaced.

A Status Yellow rain warning has also been issued for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry and Waterford. The alert is valid from midnight on Sunday until 9am.

Irish weather warning colours explained

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly appealed to the public to avoid the coasts during Storm Ashley and “not to risk their life for an Instagram photo”.

She described it as a “very serious storm” and warned of the ongoing risk of flooding.

Ms Donnelly said Ireland has seen the highest spring tides of the year so far.

“We’re going to have coastal flooding. We’ve got very strong winds associated with Storm Ashley, particularly along west-facing coasts,” she told RTÉ Radio One’s Brendan O’Connor Show.

“We’ve got heavy rain too. There’s likely to be flooding – caused by the rain, caused by the onshore wind, caused by the spring tides.

“We’ve kind of got a perfect storm going on here. It is very serious. And the main message we need to get out there is [to] stay away from the coast. Don’t risk your life for an Instagram photo,” she added.

The forecaster also appealed to the public to follow Met Éireann’s weather warnings as they develop.

“Keep an eye on your own vulnerabilities, your property’s vulnerabilities. Tie down the trampolines, no matter where you are in the country, and make sure any loose debris is well taken care of,” she said.

“Don’t go near any fallen trees. Call the emergency services if a tree is down near you – those electricity wires can be hidden under trees.

“Don’t risk your life or the life of those that have to come rescue you in the case of attending coasts. Don’t go near the coasts.”

Storm Ashley is currently “rapidly developing in the Atlantic” and is a “fast-moving” storm.

“We always need to be aware of our own vulnerabilities to significant weather. It’s going to be a very windy day and there’s going to be some very heavy rain, there’s going to be difficult or dangerous traveling conditions.

“So you need to take responsibility for your own safety here and be aware that these warnings can change,” she added.

The National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) also advised the public to stay away from coastal areas throughout tomorrow.

The warning followed a meeting this morning between the NDFEM, Met Éireann and various other stakeholders to review updates in relation to the current weather warnings in place for Storm Ashley.

NDFEM said it will continue to liaise with Met Éireann and is monitoring the situation.

Keith Leonard, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, said: “Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams are continuing to monitor conditions locally.

“With potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas, especially in Southern and Western counties, surface flooding in urban locations is also possible and Local Authorities have their emergency response teams in place, ready to respond where and when necessary.

“The public also have their own part to play. I would absolutely urge everyone to stay away from all coastal areas during this period and to heed the advice from the Irish Coast Guard to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.

“As dangerous travelling conditions are also possible, road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.”

Met Éireann meteorologist Liz Walsh said: “Storm Ashley will bring strong southerly winds overnight on Saturday night and early Sunday with a second wave of even stronger south-westerly winds, accompanied by damaging gusts across the country, from mid-morning on Sunday, right through the afternoon and into the evening in some parts.”

Ahead of the storm, today is set to be dry and bright for much of the day, with sunny spells and just a few showers.

Cloud will then build from the south of the country through the evening, bringing rain to the south-west in the night-time.

It will then turn windy and wet tonight and into tomorrow morning as the rain is set to extend nationwide overnight.

Top temperatures will range from 12 to 15C on Saturday and between 13 and 16C on Sunday.

On Sunday, with all weather warnings in place, heavy overnight rain might clear to the northeast in the morning while more persistent rain will later come to the west and south with thunderstorms.

Met Éireann said the peak winds will happen very early in the morning, then again in the afternoon and evening.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has urged road users to take “extreme care”. If the road is flooded, drivers are advised to take alternate routes.

Drivers have also been urged to slow down and allow greater breaking distance to the vehicle in front. This is especially important on high-speed roads such as motorways where there is a greater danger of aquaplaning.

The RSA has advised pedestrians to walk on the right-hand side of the road facing traffic where there are no footpaths, while cyclists should use front and rear lights and wear high visibility clothing.

After the blustery weekend, early next week looks rather dry with a few scattered showers while the high tides will keep the ongoing risk of coastal flooding.

Monday will be a quieter and drier day with sunny spells and scatted showers, which will be present mostly across Atlantic counties.

Temperatures are set to range between 12 and 15C. Although the winds and rain will not be as heavy as the day before for most, they might still be strong along Atlantic coasts.

Meanwhile, the rain will increase across the western and southern coasts on Monday night, with some thunderstorms possible and overnight temperatures of 7 and 10C.