1 week Ago By Aoife Horan
AN IRISH weather expert has warned the combination of spring tides and high winds could bring disaster this weekend as Storm Ashley batters the country. The vicious storm is expected to build from Saturday night and hit the country on Sunday - with offshore waves of 10 to 11 metres expected - and every single county placed under a weather warning. A Status Yellow wind warning is in place for the entire country, with Met Eireann warning that Storm Ashley will bring strong and gusty southerly winds, coupled with high spring tides.
The weather bosses outlined large coastal waves, fallen trees and branches, difficult driving and cycling conditions and debris and loose objects displaced as possible impacts of the storm in each county. The alert will kick in at 10am on Sunday and remain in place until midnight on Monday. Galway and Mayo look set to be hit the worst by the potentially dangerous weather and will be under a Status Orange alert from 12pm on Sunday afternoon until 9pm on Sunday night.
Met Eireann warned of large coastal waves, loose objects displaced, fallen trees, "very difficult" travelling conditions and "dangerous" conditions at sea. There is also expected to be damages to power lines, bringing power outages, and damage to already weakened structures. Met Eireann has warned that "exceptionally high" supermoon spring tides could bring the risk of coastal flooding.
Carlow Weather 's Alan O'Reilly explained that today will see rain move across the country but a clear evening. He said: "Friday morning, we have a band of rain and some strong winds today moving across the country, but it will clear by evening." Met Eireann explained that heavy bursts will hit by late afternoon with temperatures of 13C to 16C.
The national forecaster said: "Patchy rain and drizzle will extend across the country this morning and it will turn rather breezy. "Heavier bursts of rain will move into western areas by late morning before pushing eastwards over the country during the afternoon. "A clearance will arrive into Atlantic coastal counties by evening.
Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. "There is the continuing possibility of coastal flooding due to very high tides." Carlow Weather explained that Saturday will be the "calm before the storm" with sunny spells and odd showers.
He said: "Saturday, then it will be the calm before the storm with some good sunny spells and just the odd shower until heavy rain pushes in Saturday night with the first of the strong winds overnight Saturday night into Sunday. "But the main wind event is Sunday during the day." Met Eireann said Saturday will be dry and bright with sunny spells and "just a few" passing showers for much of the day.
But the forecasters added: "However, cloud will build from the south through the afternoon with rain developing in the southwest during the evening. "Maximum temperatures of 12C to 15C in moderate southwest winds. "There is the continuing possibility of coastal flooding due to very high tides.
" ALAN O'Reilly explained that spring tides are not to do with the season of spring but with the alignment of the sun and moon. He said: "Spring tides doesn't have anything to do with the season of spring by the way, it's spring tides when the sun and the moon align. "Springtides are when the tides are very high and this time of the year with the super full moon we have big tides.
" This month's full moon, called the Hunter's Moon, is the third of four supermoons in 2024 and was spotted in Irish skies last night. Alan explained: "That coming together with the onshore wind could bring some fairly significant coastal flooding if they hit at the same time. "Hopefully that won't happen and if you're getting a ferry on Sunday, go easy on the food and keep an eye on the updates because it could be rather choppy.
" Saturday night will see gales develop along the coast as temperatures drop to 9C to 12C. Met Eireann explained: "Heavy rain will extend nationwide on Saturday night and strong southeast winds will develop along with gales at the coast. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.
" Sunday will see high winds and high seas with a risk of coastal flooding, according to Alan O'Reilly. He said: "Now, the latest weather models rolling out here do show very strong winds but also very high seas. "The risk of coastal flooding, especially in the west, is very high with some significant wave heights of 10 to 11 metres possible near the west coast.
"Those winds will pick up overnight Saturday to Sunday but the strongest of the winds would be Sunday afternoon. "Weather models just rolling out this morning show the low pressure system deepening and coming closer to Ireland than many of the models had shown over the last few days. "That does increase the risk of significant strong winds into the west coast and then strong winds moving right across the country.
"But for many parts of the east and south east it doesn't look too bad at the moment, that could change." He said that the west will take the brunt of the stormy weather - and that there is a risk of power outages, over topping and coastal flooding. O' Reilly added: "Really, it's the west coast that looks like its going to take the brunt of this and unfortunately at this time of year with leaves still on the trees, we're looking at power outages, we're looking at some overtopping and some coastal flooding.
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