Public urged to be vigilant and prepare for severe wind conditions as Storm Kathleen approaches
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) Crisis Management Team convened a Met Éireann technical briefing this morning (Friday 5th April) to assess possible impacts from Storm Kathleen.
Storm Kathleen is a significant low-pressure system tracking off the west coast which will bring strong southerly winds and damaging gusts across the country on Saturday.
A nationwide yellow wind warning is in place from early on Saturday. Orange level wind warnings will be in effect for counties Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway and Mayo. Full information on these warnings can be found at www.met.ie/warnings/
Storm Kathleen is a dynamic system so there may be updates to the warnings. The public is urged to be aware of the latest forecasts via Met Éireann’s social media channels, www.met.ie and the Met Éireann app.
The potential impacts of Storm Kathleen are likely to be:
Speaking after the meeting, Keith Leonard, National Director of the NDFEM advised the public:
“Given the challenging wind conditions expected, I would urge members of the public to stay away from all coastal areas for the duration of the Met Éireann warnings. Also, strong winds can make driving conditions hazardous – especially for the more vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and high sided vehicles – and road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.
“Importantly, I would remind people that it is critical that they never ever touch or approach fallen wires. Be sure to stay safe and stay clear of fallen or damaged electricity wires and, if you encounter any, do contact ESB Networks at 1800 372 999. Where power cuts do occur, use the PowerCheck App to check for reconnection times.
“We will continue to monitor the ongoing weather conditions and ensure that all relevant state bodies are responding appropriately to meet any challenges. I would advise everybody to keep up to date with information regarding the developing weather situation via the Met Eireann platforms available.”
Today’s meeting was convened by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in its role as Lead Government Department for the response to severe weather events.
The NDFEM Crisis Management Team continue to monitor developments, liaising with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams and Crisis Management Teams who are actively monitoring the evolution of the storm.
ENDS