Storm Éowyn: Schools to close as Met Éireann warns of 'danger to life'

Local schools and childcare settings are to close on Friday after Met Éireann issued a Status Red wind and rain warning for Westmeath.

It's been forecast that gales in excess of 130km/h are set to batter most of the country on Friday morning as the country braces itself for what has been described as a "generational storm".

Westmeath was one of 13 counties where the wind warning for Friday has been upgraded from Orange to Red. The others are: Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary. A Status Red win warning had earlier been issued for Kerry, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

The wind warning runs from 6am to 12pm on Friday.

Met Éireann says that Storm Éowyn “will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h”.

Potential impacts from Friday's storm, according to Met Éireann, include: danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events and structural damage.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met today (Wednesday). In a statement issued earlier, the advised that “a Status Red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’”.

“People in the areas affected by red warnings should stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties.

“Schools, early learning and childcare settings and further and higher education institutions in red level warning areas will close for the duration of the red warning.

“Employers in red warning areas should facilitate working from home for all employees who can do so. Only emergency service workers should be leaving home for work, where directed by their employer.”

th Leonard, Chair of the NECG, said:

“Storm Éowyn is going to be a very dangerous and destructive weather event. The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property. During the Red Level wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter in place.

“Where Orange warnings are in place, the public are also advised to limit travel to essential journeys only. An orange wind warning should not be underestimated – it can bring extremely strong gusts and can also pose a threat to life and property.

“I would urge people to stay away from coastal areas during this period and to heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard for people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.”