‘Very intense’ rain and thunderstorms in east of nation as orange climate warnings issued – The Irish Occasions

The east of the nation skilled heavy downpours, thunder and lightning on Wednesday afternoon, creating the chance for localised flooding, Met Éireann has warned.

A variety of orange and yellow climate warnings have been in place since Tuesday evening, however there haven’t been reviews of extreme flooding or a lot of energy outages on account of the climate.

An offshore wind turbine close to Arklow was believed to be struck by lightning throughout the storm, with pictures rising of smoke billowing out from the highest of it.

A spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard confirmed they obtained reviews of the incident at round lunch time on Wednesday. A spokesman for GE renewables, which owns the turbine, confirmed an incident befell.

“There have been no accidents. The Coast Guard has been notified. As soon as climate situations allow and we will entry the location safely, we are going to begin working to find out the foundation explanation for this occasion,” the spokesman added.

A standing orange thunderstorm warning is in place for Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow till 5pm, whereas an orange rain warning is in place for Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow till midnight.

A standing yellow rain warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Kerry and Tipperary can also be in place till midnight.

Paul Downes, a forecaster with Met Éireann, stated there’s a “line of very intense rain and thunderstorms over the east” of the nation.

“These will push a bit additional inland alongside the east coast throughout the afternoon. And whereas there may be some drier, brighter situations alongside the south and southwest, it’s going to give option to additional bands of rain pushing up from the south to later this afternoon,” he stated.

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A spokesman for ESB stated there may be at the moment “a quantity” of energy outages on account of thunderstorms with pockets of consumers in Westmeath and Wicklow most affected. The most important of those are in Athlone and Bray the place ESB Networks crews are at the moment dispatched.

Nevertheless, the dimensions of weather-related disruption stays “comparatively low”, the spokesman added.

The rain will ease for many areas throughout the day on Wednesday, as a dry spell develops, based on Emer Flood, of Met Éireann.

“Later this night, one other band of heavy rain, with additional attainable thunderstorms, will unfold up from the south. It is going to observe northwards over the nation tonight. There’s a continued threat of localised flooding tonight.”

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Recent to robust southeast winds will regularly ease in a single day, lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 levels.

Thursday might be a drier day, Ms Flood stated, with the morning resulting from be largely dry throughout the nation, with vivid spells.

“There’s an opportunity of remoted showers throughout the morning time, nonetheless throughout the afternoon and night, the rain will as soon as once more develop within the southwest and south,” she stated.

“The climate might be staying unsettled on Friday and all through the weekend with rain most days, fairly breezy at occasions as nicely.”

The Highway Security Authority (RSA) has suggested street customers to take care as a result of threat of flooding.

“Highway customers in areas affected by the orange warnings for heavy rain are suggested to test native visitors and climate situations earlier than setting out on a journey,” the RSA stated.

“Drivers must decelerate and permit a higher braking distance between themselves and the automobile in entrance in moist climate situations. That is particularly necessary on excessive pace roads equivalent to twin carriageways and motorways the place there may be elevated hazard of aquaplaning.”