Last updated 14:55
Galway is set to be hit by winds of up to 130kph tonight (Thursday ) as the country prepares for Storm Éowyn. A Status Red weather warning is due to come into force for Galway and Clare at 3am on Friday, with Met Éireann warning of a danger to life due to extreme storm conditions tonight.
Galway will be subject to a Status Red warning from 3am to 11am on Friday. Status Red warnings had been issued for the whole country, with a Status Orange warning also in place from midnight to 4pm on Friday.
Met Éireann has warned of increasingly stormy weather in the hours leading up to 2am, with widespread disruption and a risk to life during the height of the storm overnight.
The weather warning comes with a risk of wave overtopping and coastal flooding in low lying and exposed areas. Gale force winds are also likely to result in fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, structural damage, unsafe working conditions, and disruption and cancellations to transport.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group warned last evening that other counties are likely to be added to the Status Red warning.
“A Status Red severe weather warning means ‘shelter in place’,” the group said in a statement yesterday. “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 childcares settings and further and higher education institutions in red level warning areas will close for the duration of the red warning. Public transport will also be suspended while the Status Red warning is in place.
“Storm Éowyn is going to be a very dangerous and destructive weather event,” Keith Leonard, chair of the NECG, said ahead of the storm. “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.”
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.
Widespread disruption to public and other services is also anticipated during the storm.
HSE services and appointments will be cancelled while the Status Red warning is in place. This will include all out patient appointments, day service appointments, electives and community clinics. The HSE will be in contact with this group of patients to reschedule their appointment as quickly as possible.
Patients are advised not to travel to the hospitals unless absolutely necessary.
Hospitals are putting arrangements in place to ensure the continuation of essential services for chemotherapy and dialysis patients as well as those coming in for urgent surgery. These patients are being prioritised at this time and are being contacted by the clinical teams in relation to appointments/procedures planned.
In circumstances where patients are unable to travel, alternative dates will be provided as soon as possible.
Only HSE buildings connected to immediate and urgent service provision will be staffed during the period of the storm. Primary Care Centres will be closed tomorrow, Friday.
Emergency Departments will remain open 24/7, and injury units will also continue to operate as normal.
Supports to vulnerable people at home in the community will be prioritised on an urgent needs basis during the hours of restricted travel.
Health services will do all they can to ensure continuity of critical emergency services including ambulance, ED, dialysis, oncology treatment and pre-natal care for expectant mothers. The National Ambulance Service will continue to respond to emergency calls and will work with other primary response agencies to minimise disruptions.
Interagency liaison is also ongoing between An Garda Siochana, the HSE, the Fire Service, the Civil Defence, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, and the Port of Galway.
Galway City Council has announced the closure of car parks at Ballyloughane (local access only ), Silverstrand, Tofts car park and Salthill Prom car park in Salthill from today due to potential coastal overtopping.
Sandbags will also be available today at the Spanish Arch, Galway Fire Station on Fr Griffin Road, and at Seapoint beside the Aquarium in Salthill.
According to the latest Met Éireann forecast, rain is expected to move in from the Atlantic this evening (Thursday ), extending across Munster and Connacht before spreading throughout the rest of the country. Sleet and snow is expected for a time tonight in Connacht and Ulster, which could further exacerbate hazardous driving conditions during the storm.
Dawn tomorrow (Friday ) is expected to be extremely windy, with gale force and storm force winds across the country causing further disruption, and lowest temperatures from 0°C to 4°C.
COPE Galway will be operating an extension of the Cold Weather Response on behalf of Galway City Council from 9pm this evening. Should anyone encounter a person rough sleeping at night the COPE Galway night team can be reached on (085 ) 287 8876.
The freephone number is also in operation from 7pm until 11pm each night on 1800 788 887. During day-time hours, COPE Galway Day Centre team can be contacted on (091 ) 525 259.
