Dublin: Met Éireann has issued an orange weather alert for five western counties — Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo — from 2pm to 10pm today as Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, is set to bring severe conditions.
The forecaster has warned of fallen trees, power outages and dangerous coastal waves, with a yellow alert in effect for much of the rest of the country. Kerry is also under an orange rain warning, while yellow rain alerts cover Munster, Cavan, Donegal and Connacht counties. A red marine warning is in place for coastal areas from Loop Head to Rossan Point to Fair Head between 2pm and 8pm, with officials describing the situation as “rare and very dangerous”. The Kerry warning also extends to West Cork, and heavy rainfall is likely in Galway.
Storm Amy was named by the UK Met Office and is being driven by a powerful Atlantic low-pressure system, currently influenced by tropical cyclones Humberto and Imelda near Bermuda. Met Éireann explained that this system is expected to merge with the jet stream on Friday, intensifying winds over Ireland.
National emergency measures are now in motion. Local Government Minister James Browne has convened a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group, while Keith Leonard, Director of Fire and Emergency Management, warned that the storm will be “a challenge for many counties.” Local authority weather teams are on standby. The Irish Coast Guard has urged the public to stay away from coastal areas until conditions ease.
Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann has cancelled bridge replacement works between Dún Laoghaire and Greystones, originally scheduled for this weekend, now rescheduled for November 1–2. However, DART and Dublin–Rosslare Europort services will run as normal. Other works—including track renewal between Portlaoise and Thurles, bridge repairs, and signalling upgrades for the Cork Commuter Rail project between Mallow and Cork—will proceed as planned. Redevelopment works at Ceannt Station in Galway and operations at Oranmore Station will also continue through Friday night and Saturday, pausing at 9am on Sunday.
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