Met Éireann upgrades weather warning to status red for Cork

Met Éireann has upgraded its orange weather warning for Cork, to a status red level warning. A red level warning is classed as “rare” and “extremely destructive”.

A status orange warning, defined as “dangerous” and “disruptive” has been issued for Munster, Galway and Mayo, while a yellow warning or “localised danger” is in place for the rest of the country.

It’s expected that Storm Ellen will produce “a core of very severe and destructive winds” between 9pm and midnight tonight. Strong winds will continue for most of the night however, and into Thursday morning.

The rapidly developing low pressure system will see the strongest of gusts to its southeast. It is expected to make landfall along the south and south east coast, at Cork and Waterford.

As Storm Ellen tracks northwards through the Midlands and up towards Ulster, there will be damaging gusts averaging between 110km/h inland, and up to 130km/h off the south coast.

With trees in full leaf, there is the potential for power outages. Motorists are asked not to make unnecessary journeys during the course of the storm.

Rainfall is expected to be extremely heavy, moving in over Munster and south east Leinster, bringing localised flooding particularly in coastal areas due to the effects of a new moon.

Meanwhile, a status red marine warning for strong gale force winds on all Irish coastal waters and the Irish Sea is in place, with winds expected to reach violent storm force 11 for a time from Carnsore Point to Valentia to Slyne Head.