Janice R. Andrews
Storm Ashley is set to batter Northern Ireland on Sunday, prompting weather warnings and preparations across the region. The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for wind, effective from 03:00 BST to midnight, with inland gusts potentially reaching 60 mph (100 km/h). This raises concerns about travel disruptions and infrastructure damage.
In the Republic of Ireland, Met Éireann has escalated its warning to Status Orange for several western counties, including Galway and Mayo. This higher-level alert, in place from 10:00 to 20:00 local time, indicates a greater risk of coastal flooding, treacherous sea conditions, and travel difficulties, particularly along the western seaboard.
Authorities in Northern Ireland are taking preventive measures. The Department for Infrastructure has installed temporary flood defenses along the River Lagan in vulnerable areas of south Belfast. Local councils are also responding, with potential delays in waste management services and closures of parks and outdoor facilities to mitigate risks from falling debris.
The western Irish coast is expected to face the brunt of the storm, with wind speeds potentially reaching 70-80 mph (113-129 km/h) in exposed coastal and elevated areas. Met Éireann’s warning covers a broad swath of western Ireland, including Clare, Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo.
As the inaugural storm of the new season, which commenced on September 1, Ashley marks the beginning of the alphabetical naming convention used by meteorological services to enhance public awareness of severe weather events. The next storms in line are Bert and Conall.
Residents in affected areas are strongly advised to stay vigilant, heed local warnings, and prepare for potential disruptions as the storm progresses throughout the day.
