High alert for ‘weather bomb’ Brian
THE country is bracing itself for Storm Brian, which is forecast to bring a ‘weather bomb’ with gale force winds and heavy rainfall this weekend.
Met Éireann issued two Status Orange the three Status Yellow warnings yesterday as tens of thousands of people were still without water and electricity in the wake of Ophelia.
Storm Brian will hit the country tonight and bring with it gusts of up to 130kph and torrential rain, continuing tomorrow.
The southern part of the country, which is still struggling to repair the damage left following the ex-hurricane on Monday, is expected to be hit with more high winds and an estimated 50mm of rainfall in 24 hours, causing spot flooding.
Tweeting yesterday morning, Met Éireann wrote: ‘The system that may become #StormBrian will undergo explosive cyclogenesis in the next 24 hours.’
A forecaster said that an ‘explosive cyclogenesis’, which is otherwise known as a weather bomb or explosive development, is a ‘rapidly deepening pressure system’.
Storm Brian – which Met Éireann officially named yesterday – is set to batter the country as 50,000 homes and businesses are still without power, while 5,000 are without water. Additionally, a further 30,000 families were without phone or internet service, Eir said last night.
Seán Hogan, chair of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group, admitted another storm was the last thing that was needed. Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said: ‘We get from Met Éireann every year in winter season probably between 50 and 70 weather warnings of Yellow and Orange level – with Orange levels particularly along the coastal areas.
‘Obviously it is going to make conditions more difficult for the ESB staff who are still out there who are working, trying to get to the last customers.
‘You wouldn’t want the weather conditions that have been forecast but that is something we have no control over.’
One of the Orange warnings is for the counties of Wexford, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, which were badly hit by Ophelia just days ago. These regions are expected to experience gusts of between 110kph and 130kph from midnight tonight night until 12pm today with the risk of coastal flooding as Storm Brian tracks eastwards across central and southern parts of Ireland.
The other Orange warning is for counties Galway and Mayo, where gusts of up to 130kph are expected tomorrow.
A Status Yellow weather advisory regarding Storm Brian has been issued for the entire country, with gusty winds of up to 110kph expected to hit for 36 hours from tonight at 6pm. Another Status Yellow wind warning has been issued for the entire country from 10pm tonight for 24 hours, with gusts of up to 110kph.
The Road Safety Authority has urged motorists to be vigilant for fallen debris, use dipped headlights, and not drive through flooded areas.