Date: 22 Jan 2025
Status Red Wind Warning – Donegal County Council is urging members of the public to take extra care as Storm Éowyn approaches
A Status Red Wind Warning has been issued by Met Éireann today and will be in effect in Donegal from 6am Friday Morning until 3pm Friday Afternoon.
Storm Éowyn will bring gale to storm force southerly winds becoming westerly, bringing severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h with potential impacts of danger to life, extremely dangerous travelling conditions, unsafe working conditions, disruption and cancellations to transport, many fallen trees, significant and widespread power outages, impacts to communications networks, cancellation of events, structural damage, wave overtopping and coastal flooding in low-lying and exposed areas.
Public Advice (Red Warning)
- During the Red Level wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter in place and not to travel.
- The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, destructive and damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property.
- High seas; the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period. The Irish Coast Guard are appealing to people to “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry”.
- There is a potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas. In addition to this, the Storm Éowyn may also bring localised heavy showers, which in turn may lead to localised flooding.
- The Electricity network is expected to be severely impacted, the public are advised to prepare for the arrival of the storm including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
- ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie in regards to power restoration times.
- Uisce Éireann customers can check the website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via their 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. The public can also sign up online to our free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies - see www.water.ie
A Status Orange Wind Warning remains in place from 2am Friday until 5pm Friday evening and a Status Orange Warning Storm Warning for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea remains in effect from 2am Friday morning until 5pm Friday evening
Public Advice (Orange Warning)
- Orange warnings; the public are advised to limit travel to essential in areas where an orange level warning is in place. Essential services operators will continue to operate services subject to advice from Met Éireann on prevailing local conditions.
Donegal County Council have pre-deployed sandbags in a number of high risk areas and further sandbags are ready to be deployed if required. Roads Service, Fire Service and Civil Defence crews are at a heightened state of readiness in the event of local responses being required during this storm event, however will only be deployed during the period of the red warning in instances with an immediate threat to life.
Donegal County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team are keeping the approaching weather pattern under review and will continue to monitor all local conditions as Storm Éowyn progresses.
Donegal County Council can be contacted during normal business hours on 074 91 53900 and in the event of an out-of-hours emergency the Council’s Road Service/Housing Department can be contacted on 074 91 72288. For emergencies requiring the assistance of the Fire Service call 999 or 112.
The public are asked to keep up to date with the current weather warnings and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.
You can keep up to date on conditions in your area by signing up for free alerts to your phone by registering at www.mapalerter.com/donegal or by following Donegal County Council on Facebook or on X (Twitter) @DonegalCouncil.
