Weather warning: Storm Eleanor to hit Ireland on Tuesday

Met Éireann has issued an orange weather alert for 14 counties as the first storm of 2018 approaches.

The orange wind warning applies to counties Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, south Galway, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.

Met Éireann says Storm Eleanor will quickly move across the country Tuesday evening and Tuesday night.

West to southwest winds are forecast to have mean speeds of 65km/h to 80km/h, gusting to 110km/h to 130km/h. Damaging gusts are expected.

There will be very high seas along Atlantic coasts, with a risk of coastal flooding also.

The orange warning is in place from 7pm to 10pm on Tuesday 2 January.

Yellow warning

Met Éireann’s earlier yellow warning, issued for the entire country, remains in place.

West to southwest winds of mean speeds 55km/h to 65km/h, gusting to 90km/h to 110km/h, will develop on Tuesday evening, continuing through Tuesday night and Wednesday.

There is the potential for even stronger winds developing locally for a time on Tuesday evening, with damaging gusts.