Season's first storm Ashley to hit Ireland; "Hunter Moon" phenomenon; warning

Two warnings remain in place  until 9pm on Sunday afternoon as Ashley, the first named storm of the season, approaches Ireland  .

Met Eireann has issued a status orange wind warning for counties Galway and Mayo on Sunday, while a status yellow warning will be in place for other counties. 

People in Galway and Mayo are being warned to expect coastal flooding, large waves, displacement of loose material, fallen trees, difficult travel conditions, power outages and damage or destruction of already fragile structures.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) advises all road users to exercise extreme caution. There is a risk of downed trees, power lines and debris on roads.

Heavy rain will begin Saturday night as the storm begins, and continued rain will continue throughout the day Sunday as winds increase. Met Eireann said there was also a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. 

Storm Warning

Strong winds are likely across the country. Coastal flooding risks will continue, especially for counties along the Atlantic coast, due to a combination of high seas and spring tides. The storm comes during the highest tides of the year. "The combination of these with gale-force winds on the west coast means coastal flooding is likely, particularly on the Galway and Mayo coasts," says a spokesman for Met Eireann, adding that high tides have increased the risk of flooding this year.

High tides are caused by a Hunter Moon, which occurs when the moon orbits particularly close to Earth, causing higher than normal tides.

The National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) has asked people to stay off the roads where possible and heed the Irish Coast Guard's request. NDFEM said it would liaise with Met Éireann for the duration of the warning and provide reports when required.