Storm Henry prompts wind warning for 130km/h gusts

Orange alert for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick

Met Éireann has issued a status orange wind warning for western counties with gusts as high as 130km/h expected with the arrival of Storm Henry Sunday night and Monday.

The warning applies to counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

Southwest to west winds will reach mean speeds between 65 and 80km/h with gusts between 110 and 130km/h, peaking Monday afternoon, Met Éireann said.

A lesser status yellow warning has been issued for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford where mean speeds of between 45 and 65km/h are expected with gusts between 90 and 110km/h.

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Both warnings take effect at 10pm on Sunday and expire at midnight on Monday.

A status yellow marine warning was also issued at noon on Sunday as southwest winds were forecast to increase to gale force on Sunday night on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea. Winds are expected to increase to strong gale force on coasts from Mizen Head to Erris Head to Fair Head.

Conditions on Monday are forecast to be very windy countrywide, turning stormy in the north and northwest. There will be occasional rain or showers with some bright or sunny spells. Mid afternoon temperatures are expected to be between 5 and 8 degrees.

Winds will remain strong to gale force on Monday night with further damaging gusts expected in northern parts of the country.

Tuesday will be a bright, cold and windy day with sunny spells and scattered showers of rain or hail in the afternoon with some sleet or snow on hills in the north and west. Long dry periods are forecast for the east with temperatures of about 5 to 7 degrees feeling colder because of wind chill.

Winds will ease on Wednesday as a band of rain sweeps eastwards later in the day and into the night. Met Éireann said conditions are likely to remain very unsettled later in the week.