Weather warnings have been extended across the entire island of Ireland as Storm Debi is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds, following widespread flooding caused by earlier storms Babet and Ciaran.
Met Eireann has issued a status yellow wind and rain warning for the whole country, in effect from midnight until 3pm on Monday. The agency said conditions would be "very windy or stormy", with heavy rain and the possibility of embedded thunderstorms and hail, leading to localised flooding, hazardous driving conditions and fallen trees.
A more severe orange warning applies to 18 counties for damaging gusts between 2am and midday on Monday. The affected counties are Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway, with forecasters warning of damage to structures, power lines and disruption to services.
Marine advisories have also been issued, including a red warning for westerly winds reaching violent storm force 11 between 2am and 5am from Valentia to Loop Head to Slyne Head. The National Emergency Co-ordination Group scheduled a meeting on Sunday afternoon to prepare for the storm's arrival.
The UK Met Office has issued a yellow wind and rain warning for all of Northern Ireland on Monday, valid from 3am until 2pm. It warned of potential flooding, disruption to transport, and danger to life from fast-flowing floodwater or flying debris.
