Northern Ireland

Yellow weather warning issued for Northern Ireland as Storm Lorenzo arrives

Irish Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, at a press briefing at the Department of Agriculture, Dublin, following a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination group concerning Storm Lorenzo. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Irish Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, at a press briefing at the Department of Agriculture, Dublin, following a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination group concerning Storm Lorenzo. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire Irish Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, at a press briefing at the Department of Agriculture, Dublin, following a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination group concerning Storm Lorenzo. Picture by Brian Lawless/PA Wire

A SEVERE weather warning for wind has been issued for Northern Ireland today as ex-hurricane Lorenzo moves across the Atlantic.

The Met Office yesterday warned of a "spell of strong south-easterly winds" later today which may bring "some transport disruption" and power cuts.

It further added that "south-easterly winds will increase during Thursday, bringing gusts of 50 mph to Northern Ireland, whilst exposed coastal locations and high ground may see gusts of 55-60 mph".

The yellow warning is in place from 3pm until 10pm tonight.

As well as Northern Ireland, the Met Office said South West England and Wales would also be affected.

When it was a hurricane, Lorenzo was the most powerful ever recorded in the far east Atlantic however it is thought it will have considerably weakened by the time it makes it way towards the UK and Ireland after passing over the Azores.

Householders were also advised of potential heavy rainfall and high seas.

Meanwhile, an orange weather warning has been issued for parts of the Republic.

The warning is in place from 6pm today to 3am tomorrow.

Counties Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick are expected to be worst affected, with gusts of wind reaching up to 81mph and higher in coastal regions.

Eoghan Murphy, the Republic's minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, said Lorenzo will have an "unpredictable impact" on Ireland but flooding and power cuts were likely.

Mr Murphy was speaking after a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group in Dublin, where preparations for the storm were discussed.

Met Éireann said spells of heavy rain, in excess of 50mm in parts of the west and north west, will result in flooding.

Mr Murphy said he expects decisions about whether to close schools and colleges ahead of Lorenzo will be be made locally depending on how the storm impacts.

The minister also said that the fact that the worst of the storm is expected to occur overnight may serve to reduce the impact.