"Storm Bram" Orange and yellow warnings have been issued for Ireland and the UK

Orange and yellow warnings have been issued for Ireland and the UK as Storm Bram is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain.

An amber wind warning has been issued for northwest Scotland with gusts of up to 90mph possible. A status yellow warning has also been issued for Wales, southwest England, Northern Ireland and northern England, as well as southern and eastern Scotland.

Amber warnings for rain have been issued for South Wales and South Devon, where up to 100mm of rain could fall in open upland areas. This means most of Wales, as well as the southwest of England. Yellow warnings for rain have also been issued for the central belt of Scotland.  

For more UK  information 

 Visit https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

Ireland severe weather

Ireland is also bracing for severe weather as Storm Bram approaches, with strong winds, heavy rain and multiple warnings in place over the next 48 hours.

The second named storm of the season will make landfall Monday night, and unsettled conditions are expected to continue throughout Tuesday.

A number of weather warnings are now in place, including Status Orange alerts - the second highest - for the south, west and north-west coasts. Status Yellow alerts are in place for inland and eastern counties. What started as Status Yellow wind and rain warnings have since been upgraded to Orange levels for several counties.

A Status Yellow rain warning is in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford from 9pm to 9am. A Status Yellow wind warning will apply nationwide from 6am to 9pm tomorrow.

A status orange wind warning will be in effect for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford from 7am and will last until 3pm. A second orange wind warning will be in effect for Clare, Limerick, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 10am to 6pm.

"The chance of very severe weather in Ireland from Monday night into Tuesday looks set to increase. A low pressure area in the Atlantic will move very quickly as it approaches the southwest coast on Monday night. Heavy rain is expected to occur initially before strong winds develop. There is some uncertainty about the path and intensity of the winds, but it could be a damaging development for some areas, particularly along the south, west and northwest coasts."

Flooding is expected as rain falls on areas that are already flooded, and many rivers are nearing flood stage. Ireland is currently experiencing a period of high tides, which will be combined with strong, coastal winds, so coastal areas are at increased risk of flooding.

 We reiterate the well-known advice of the Irish Coast Guard: 'Stay back, stay high'. "High tides will prevent rivers from flowing out to sea, significantly increasing the risk of flooding upstream in low-lying areas. People should follow the guidance of local authorities and emergency response forces in their area."

He urged the public to check Met Office forecasts and warnings regularly as the storm approaches, as the situation is likely to change rapidly and with increasing frequency.

With parents already growing increasingly anxious, questions are being raised about the possibility of school closures. Normally, a Status Red warning would result in mandatory closures for schools, colleges and childcare facilities – but no Red Alerts have been issued at this time. All schools should keep up to date with current weather warnings, including all national and local news bulletins, and especially any changes to the Status Warning in their area.

The decision to close a school rests with the school management authority, taking into account the full guidance and advice available from the principal response agencies.

In all cases, if there is any doubt, schools should exercise caution. Schools have the authority to make closure decisions, in the following circumstances. In their judgment, it is prudent to do so, given the safety of the school community.

Primary and post-primary schools in areas affected by the weather warning should remain alert and be informed of any hourly and other updates from Met Eireann, their local authorities, local radio and principal response agencies.

For more  Ireland information  

 Visit https://www.met.ie/