Met Éireann warns Storm Darragh will cause damage in Laois

Storm Darragh damage is on course to cause damage in Laois with Met Éireann placing the county under weather warnings for what is shaping up to be the worst storm of the winter so far.

Named by the UK Met Office, the low-pressure system is set to track over Ireland on Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning, moving over to the UK on Saturday afternoon.

Met Éireann has issued Status Red, Orange and Yellow weather alerts with the impact of the Atlantic storm looking severe for Ireland due to high winds and heavy rain.

The forecaster has issued a Status Orange wind warning for Laois, the rest of Leinster which says Storm Darragh will bring very strong and gusty northwest winds.

It outlines the impacts as follows:

• Fallen trees
• Damage to power lines
• Very difficult travelling conditions
• Damage to temporary structures
• Wave overtopping

The alert, which was issued at 8.30am on Friday, is valid: 10 pm Friday, December 6 to 10am Saturday, December 7.

Met Éireann has also issued 24 hour a Staus Yellow Wind warning for all of Ireland that is valid from 3pm Friday 3pm Saturday.

While Laois and Leinster is not under a rain alert, Met Éireann is forecasting widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms are possible in the province. FULL DETAILS FOR Laois and Leinster below X post.

#StormDarragh will bring very wet and windy weather today️️

Rain will become widespread & heavy, possibly causing localised flooding️

Sleet is possible on northern hills & there is a chance of isolated thunder

Highs of 8 to 13C

Warnings in place ➡️https://t.co/w5QtJ1UyEP pic.twitter.com/54v5U9dFdN

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 6, 2024

Met Éireann weather forecast for Leinster issued at 6am, December 6.

Friday: Storm Darragh will bring wet and very windy weather. Rain will spread across Leinster from the west and will be heavy at times, possibly causing localised flooding in north Leinster. There is a chance of isolated thunderstorms too. Strong and gusty south to southeast winds will develop through the morning and will become very strong and gusty south to southwest in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees.

Storm Darragh will bring wet and very windy conditions overnight. There will be rain and showers through the night, turning heavy at times and possibly causing localised flooding in north Leinster. Winds will turn northwesterly and will become very strong and gusty. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees.

Saturday: Storm Darragh will bring very windy or stormy conditions on Saturday morning, with very strong and gusty northwesterly winds. Strongest winds will be in the morning but it will stay windy and gusty throughout the day. Rain will clear eastwards in the morning and there will be scattered blustery showers for the rest of the day, with hail possible. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees.

Clear spells and scattered showers, becoming isolated overnight. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees with mainly moderate to fresh north to northwest winds, occasionally strong and gusty.

Sunday: Mostly dry with sunny spells on Sunday, although it will be cloudy in parts of the west and northwest and a few showers may drift in along eastern coasts too. Highest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees with moderate to fresh northerly winds.

Mostly dry with clear spells. Frost and icy patches are possible as temperatures drop to between 0 and 5 degrees and northerly winds ease light to moderate.

Monday: Most areas dry with sunny spells but it will be cloudy at times in the east and southeast, bringing isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees in a light to moderate northeasterly wind.

Cold with frost and some icy patches. A dry night with clear spells but areas of mist and fog will form in light winds. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +5 degrees, coldest away from the southeast.

Tuesday: Frost and ice will clear on Tuesday morning, but the fog will be slow to clear and may linger in some parts through the day. There will be some sunshine though elsewhere. Highest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees, coldest in the northwest.