Cavan and Monaghan brace for Storm Dave over Easter break
Storm Dave is set to hit Ireland over Easter weekend as Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow wind warning for the entire country.
The warning will take effect from 3pm tomorrow (Saturday) until midnight on Sunday but the strongest of the winds will be in the northwest. Changes in the forecast position and intensity of storm Dave, could lead to updates to the warnings,
The national forecaster said there will be very strong southerly winds, veering westerly with severe gusts and coastal gales. This could lead to fallen trees and branches, wave overtopping, difficult travelling conditions and debris.
Met Éireann meteorologist Michelle Dillion said on RTÉ Radio One that Saturday will see the worst weather with strong coastal gales and spring tides bringing high waves and onshore winds which could lead to coastal flooding.
Ms Dillion said the weather is becoming more wet and windy over the Easter weekend and called it a mobile situation with a lot of uncertainty.
According to a weather advisory published by Met Éireann: "The most disruptive spell of windy weather will be on Saturday afternoon and into Saturday night, when a nationwide yellow wind warning comes into effect, with the potential for some severe gusts, as storm Dave tracks by the west and northwest coast."
Storm Dave was named by the UK Met Office on Thursday morning.
"As this storm has not yet developed, there is some uncertainty in its depth and track and hence in wind strength. Another developing deep area of low pressure will become anchored close to the southeast of Iceland on Monday, leading to a windy day for Ireland," the advisory continues.
Met Éireann have said that the level of warnings may yet be revised.
The forecast for today (Good Friday), meanwhile, is for a rather cloudy day with some rain and drizzle or showers. An improvement is forecast through the afternoon, with the rain and drizzle clearing, followed by sunshine and a scattering of showers. A little bit breezy at times, mainly along southern and western coasts.
Looking ahead to Easter Sunday, it will be breezy for a time with sunshine and scattered showers. Cooler too and some of the showers will fall as hail and with some sleet over higher ground, especially in the west and north.
There’ll be an improvement through the day with the winds easing and showers becoming more isolated, so a mostly dry sunny Easter Sunday evening with lighter winds.
The bank holiday Monagy is looking like a windy day but milder with just a little rain and drizzle.