URGENT WEATHER WARNING: Derry and the North West is set to take the full force of a storm later today on a scale experts say could be the worst to hit us in years.
Already forecasters believe Storm Rachel is packing winds of up to 90 miles per hour and will bring havoc to this part of Ireland in the same way a storm hit Munster on February 12 last year cutting power to half a million people.
If you look closely at this predictive wind map, you will be able to just make out the North West of Ireland.
The warning comes as Derry wakes up to snow covered streets and the county has ground to a halt after move heavy snow overnight.
Several schools have closed and bus services are in doubt. Many roads across both the city and the county are treacherous this morning.
Schools which have opened have advised children to travel only if it is safe to do so.
A Met Office Yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place until noon today.
But now there will be even more disruption later today and in to tomorrow, warn forecasters.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the North.
The Yellow Wind Warning applies from 3pm today and lasts until midnight tomorrow, so it promises to be a significant weather event.
The storm is packing enough force to bring down power lines, said the forecaster.
Peter O’Donnell from Irish Weather Online warned: “The highest winds will hit the North West of Ireland.
“People should secure loose objects and if you have to park a vehicle outdoors, pick a spot that is not downwind from trees or other potentially loose objects.
“To assess that before the winds pick up, you can stand in the proposed location and face southwest then west, to see what is upwind of that location. It might save you a bit of damage to your car if you avoid a location where a tree branch or roofing tiles could fly into it. Definitely time to bring in the trampolines.”
Tags:
