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'Threat to life' storm warning issued for Northern Ireland

High winds are expected to pose a risk of injury
High winds are expected to pose a risk of injury High winds are expected to pose a risk of injury

FORECASTERS have issued a 'danger to life' yellow weather warning for Northern Ireland next week.

The Met Office alert will be in place from 6pm on Monday until midday on Tuesday, with "very strong winds" posing the risk of "injuries and danger to life" because of flying debris.

The ferocious winds are coming off the back of one of several major storms currently raging in the Atlantic, another of which, Hurricane Florence, has caused mass evacuations on the east coast of United States.

The Met Office issued two "yellow" alerts yesterday as Storm Helene began creeping towards south-western corners of the UK and the tip of Ireland.

While currently classified as a hurricane, Helene will be downgraded to a storm by the time it reaches the the north.

Large waves lashing coastal regions also have the potential to harm by propelling "beach material" onto seafronts, the warning said.

Bridges, airports and ferry services in the affected areas face closure if winds grow too violent, while roads and rail routes might also be cut off.

Power services could be impacted, with other services like mobile phone coverage also potentially affected.

The storm is likely to die out by Wednesday, according to the Met Office.