Met Éireann has issued several weather warnings for New Year’s Eve, indicating a wet and windy start to the new year for Ireland, with planned events at risk of not going ahead.
The national forecaster has put out both a rain and wind warning ahead of New Year’s Eve, with strong gale force winds and heavy rain predicted for Donegal, Galway, and Mayo.
The first warning, a Status Yellow – Wind warning for Donegal, Galway, and Mayo, will be in effect from midnight on Tuesday until 11am on Tuesday morning. These counties can anticipate strong to gale force and gusty southwest winds during this time.
Potential impacts include: fallen branches/trees, debris, displaced loose objects, challenging travel conditions, wave overtopping due to onshore winds and high seas, particularly during high tide times. The national forecaster also issued a Status Yellow – Rain alert for Donegal, warning of periods of rain, heavy at times from 11am on Monday until 11am on Tuesday.
Galway is one of the counties under a Status Yellow Wind warning
Possible impacts include: localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility. Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued a Yellow – Wind Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry.
The weather forecaster warned that strong westerly winds may cause some travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.
Met Éireann has warned that New Year’s Eve will be quite windy across the country. The day will start with widespread rain, mainly in Munster and south Leinster, but this will give way to hazy sunshine and isolated showers in the north.
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However, cloud and rain will return from the southwest in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will range from 8C to 12C, with strong gusty winds, particularly near the western and northwestern coasts.
These winds will ease by evening. Overnight, it will become wet and windy as heavy rain extends northeastwards, especially in the north and west, with potential for spot flooding.
Temperatures will drop to between 0C and 3C in the north, and 5C to 9C in the south. Fresh to strong and gusty cyclonic variable winds will develop by morning as a low-pressure system approaches from the west.
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