People are advised to stay indoors as much as possible until the red alert is flagged off. High winds will tear through the country as the day goes on.
Storm Éowyn is bringing severe and dangerous circumstances that pose a risk to life and property, according to the chair of the National Emergency Coordination Group, reports RTE.
“Éowyn will be one of the most dangerous storms that Ireland has faced,” Keith Leonard warned at a briefing this afternoon.
He stated, “We expect this storm to be disruptive, dangerous,” and that gusts of more than 130 km/h are anticipated, reports RTE.
Since the early hours of tomorrow morning, Met Éireann has issued multiple Status Red warnings for wind over the whole nation, citing a potential “danger to life.”
After the Status Red alerts expire, the nation is also under a Status Orange wind warning, which will be in effect from midnight until 4 p.m. tomorrow, reports RTE.
Additionally, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, and Wexford are under a Status Yellow rain warning, with heavy rain expected starting at 9 p.m. tonight and causing localised floods.
In anticipation of Éowyn’s arrival, Mr. Leonard announced this morning that all vital services and crucial infrastructure are now functioning in emergency mode, reports RTE.
Even when the warnings end in the morning, all schools must stay closed for the whole day.
It is also anticipated that there may be significant and widespread power disruptions, building damage, and event cancellations.
People have been warned to keep their phones charged in case they find themselves in an emergency and to avoid travelling during the alert period, reports RTE.
Mr. Leonard stated on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that it is crucial to stress that the situation would continue to be “quite extreme” long after the warnings have ended.
Road networks and public transit would be severely disrupted, he added, and there will probably be a lot of trees on the roadways, reports RTE.
Public transport, including as buses, trams and trains, will not run in locations where a Status Red alert is in effect, according to confirmation from the National Transport Authority.
“Local authorities, and the key infrastructure operators will be out quickly to try and deal with that, but it’s going to be a major cleanup operation. Well into the weekend,” Mr Leonard said, adding that the ESB has diverted all resources into restoration efforts, as have Uisce Éireann, reports RTE.
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