STORM GEORGINA Met Éireann upgrades weather warning to STORM

Met Éireann christened the latest Atlantic storm to hit Ireland as Storm Georgina and issued a Storm Orange Weather warning in the process with gale force winds and heavy rain to batter the country.

The forecaster warned of stormy weather issuing Status Yellow warnings for rain and wind by on Monday night but by Tuesday afternoon the strength of the storm was realised and upgraded.

The forecaster says Georgina will track to the northwest of the country tonight. Southwest winds will reach mean speeds between 65 and 80 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h for a time tonight.

The warning is valid from just after midnight to 5am on Wednesday, January 24.

Two other Status Yellow weather warnings remain in place. 

A Status Yellow wind weather warning from Met Éireann is in place for all of Ireland from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

The forecaster says southwest winds are expected to reach mean speeds of between 55 and 65 km/hr, gusting to 110 km/hr at times on Tuesday night.

The warning is valid from 9 pm Tuesday, January 23 to 9 am Wednesday, January 24.

The forecasters has since issued a Status Yellow Weather Warning for rain in Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Clare
Rainfall totals 25 to 35mm expected. 

The warning is valid from 10 pm Tuesday, January 23 to 10 am Wednesday, January 24.

FORECAST BELOW TWEET

#StormGeorgina has been named by @MetEireann and will bring strong #winds across Ireland through the early hours of Wednesday. Yellow warnings are also in force across the UK, stay #weatheraware pic.twitter.com/tHIWD0n6yq

— Met Office (@metoffice) January 23, 2018

Windy 2NITE as storm Georgina tracks to NW of the country.SW winds will be strong to very strong&gusty with gale force winds for a time OVN with strong gales along coasts.Rain widespread&heavy for a time during the night with the risk of thunder&spot flooding,showery later.4-7°C.

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 23, 2018

In its forecast Met Éireann says it will turn very windy tonight as Georgina tracks to the northwest of the country. Southwest winds will be strong to very strong and gusty, with gale force winds for a time overnight with strong gales along coasts.

Rain will become widespread and heavy for a time during the night with the risk of thunder and spot flooding but will turn more showery later. Lowest temperatures 4 to 7 degrees.

Wednesday will be a bright and blustery day with scattered and showers, but good dry periods too. Highs of 10 or 11 degrees in fresh to strong west to southwest winds.

After a rise in temperatures in the first half of the week, the forecaster is expecting more cold and frosty weather from Thursday.

Temperatures will drop back to no higher than of 6 or 7 degrees as colder northwesterly winds develop. Clear and cold on Thursday night with widespread frost.

Friday is set to start very frosty but it will be a dry and bright for the day with highs of 6 or 7 degrees in northerly breezes. Rain spreading eastwards on Friday night.

Saturday is looking likely to be cloudy and wet during the day, becoming milder again with temps rising to around 10 or 11 degrees by evening.

The windy and some rain is on the cards for Sunday.

Met Eireann have issued a yellow weather warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Clare for 25-35mm of rain from 10pm tonight until 10am tomorrow. Watch out for flash flooding and the risk of aquaplaning. pic.twitter.com/8Z4SNFxB0p

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) January 23, 2018