Storm Claudia is sweeping across Ireland, prompting urgent warnings from authorities about a significant risk of flooding and dangerous travel conditions over the next 24 hours.
Widespread Weather Warnings Issued
National forecaster Met Eireann has implemented a series of weather alerts in response to the storm's approach. A Status Orange rain warning is currently active for Dublin, Wexford, and Wicklow, remaining in force until 8am on Saturday.
Furthermore, a broader Status Yellow rain warning covers ten additional counties, primarily along the east and south coasts. These include Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, and Meath.
Immediate Impacts and Emergency Preparations
Friday saw windy conditions nationwide, with widespread rain affecting Munster and Leinster. While Ulster and Connacht experienced drier weather, a separate yellow rain warning was activated for counties Armagh and Down from midnight until noon on Saturday.
Keith Leonard, the national director for Fire and Emergency Management, confirmed that local authorities have been preparing for the heavy rainfall since Thursday. He identified flooding as the primary concern for the coming day.
Mr Leonard highlighted that fallen leaves blocking drains present a significant complicating factor that could exacerbate flooding. He also noted that the storm's unusual trajectory, arriving from the south instead of the west, means the rainfall will hit slightly different catchments than is typical.
Travel Disruption and Ferry Cancellations
The severe weather has already begun to disrupt travel, particularly ferry services. Stena Line announced that the Stena Adventurer ferry is delayed arriving at Holyhead, and several services on the Dublin to Holyhead route have been cancelled.
The company stated, "We are closely monitoring the situation and sailings will re-commence when it is safe to do so." Impacted customers are advised to check the latest sailing information on the Stena Line website or contact their customer care team.
Residents and travellers are urged to stay informed via official channels and to exercise extreme caution, especially in areas under the Status Orange warning where the flood risk is most acute.
