UPDATED – THURSDAY: Boyle and all of the Republic of Ireland is now under a Status Red warning as Storm Eowyn is set to make landfall on Friday.
A Status Red warning is the highest possible warning issued by Met Eireann and is rarely issued, only in times of “very dangerous weather conditions from intense meteorological phenomena”.
During Red Level wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter inside. The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, destructive and damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property.
The National Emergency Coordination Group has said only emergency service workers should be leaving home for work, where directed by their employer in areas under Status Red warning.
According to Met Eireann gale to storm force southwest to west winds will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h to this area from 6am until 11pm Friday.
Once the worst of the storm passes over, an Orange warning will remain in place for the entire country on Friday until 5pm.
Impacts:
• 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 event
• Structural damage
• Wave overtopping
• Coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas
Named by the UK Met Office, Storm Éowyn (pronounced Ay-oh-win) becomes the fifth named storm of the 2024/2025 season. It will bring wet and very windy weather to Ireland starting Thursday night and during Friday (24th January).
Éowyn is forecast to be a deep low-pressure system, currently set to track to the northwest of Ireland introducing strong southeasterly winds which will veer west to south-westerly and intensify through Friday morning. The system will also bring spells of heavy rain across different parts of the country and sleet and snow to parts of the west and north in particular.
On Thursday, An Garda Siochana issued the following ststement:
Storm Éowyn is a dangerous, damaging and destructive weather event with potential serious risk to life and injury for people who do not follow safety advice.
Met Éireann has issued a Status Red Wind Warning across the entire country commencing in the early hours of Friday 24th January 2025.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) is coordinating a national response to the Status Red weather warnings.
Red warnings are issued for Friday 24th January 2025 –
02:00hrs – 10:00hrs Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford
03:00hrs – 11:00hrs Clare, Galway
04:00hrs – 12:00md Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo
06:00hrs – 11:00hrs Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon, Tipperary
07:00hrs – 14:00hrs Donegal
An Garda Síochána warns all members of the public that a Status Red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’.
People in areas during the times affected by red warnings should stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and take action to protect themselves and their properties.
Sea conditions and waves will be dangerous. Do not approach coastlines; Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.
An Garda Síochána and our colleagues in the other blue light emergency services will be on duty but depending on local weather conditions may not be in a position to respond to help during the height of Storm Éowyn, subject to dynamic risk assessments.
Do not put yourself or members of the emergency services at risk during this period.
Members of the Public should prepare today for Storm Éowyn. Please ensure that property, garden furniture and other loose material on your properties are secured.
Today is the time to be a community, to check on isolated and vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. Please ensure that they are aware of and prepared for this storm event.
A Status Orange Wind Warning is also in place for the entire country from 00:00mn to 16:00hrs Friday 24th January 2025.
Once the time duration of a Red warning has passed in your area, please exercise extreme caution and care when venturing out on the public roads, an Orange wind warning remains in place. There will be fallen trees, structural and other unexpected debris, and fallen or damaged live electricity wires in many areas across the country. Trees and structures may be unstable. The emergency services and our colleagues in Local Authorities and Utility Service providers will be busy across the road network identifying and repairing damaged infrastructure.
An Garda Síochána appeals to every person using the public roads after the expiration of the weather warnings and over this coming weekend, to Slow Down, Expect the Unexpected and Stay Safe.
