Met Éireann issues Storm Lillian warning for Kildare

Storm Lillian has caused Met Éireann to issue a special weather commentary on the storm's impact with a message alerting drivers and commuters with warnings due to the potential for danger caused by the storm.

With Status Yellow warnings issued, the forecaster says the storm will have damaging weather wind and rain impacts.

A Status Yellow wind warning is in place for Munster, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Kildare, Dublin. It warns of unseasonably strong and gusty south to southwest winds veering west to northwest.

Potential Impacts:

• Some fallen trees
• Debris, loose objects displaced
• Power outages
• Wave over-topping

The alert is valid from 00:00 (midnight tonight) to 6am Friday.

A Status Yellow rain warning is in place for Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Longford.

Met Éireann Forecaster Brandon Creagh outlined the impacts of the wind.

“The centre of the low-pressure system is expected to track across the middle of country tonight, bringing unseasonably strong and gusty south to southwest winds which will veer west to northwest as the system tracks eastwards.

"The strongest of the winds will occur overnight but with the trees still in full leaf, people need to be careful of debris or branches on the roads tomorrow morning,” he said.

Gale warnings are also in effect in eastern and southern sea areas.

As for rain Met Éireann says this system, which was named by the UK Met Office, will also bring heavy rainfall over a short time period. It says the models show the likelihood of exceeding 20mm accumulations over six hours overnight.

The forecaster says the potential impacts from this heavy rainfall include localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.