Storm Darragh: Red warning for ‘extremely strong’ winds in Donegal

A status red wind warning has been issued for Donegal for Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning ahead of Storm Darragh’s arrival.

The warning is for extremely strong and gusty northwest winds that will bring fallen trees, damage to power lines, dangerous travelling conditions, structural damage to temporary structures and wave overtopping.

It will be in effect from 11pm on Friday  until 3am on Saturday. The warning has also been issued for Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Clare and Galway and status orange warnings for wind have been put in place across the rest of the country.

READ NEXT: Met Éireann extends status orange warning to every county as Storm Darragh approaches

A red warning is the highest of Met Éireann’s three weather alerts and indicates a rare, extremely dangerous and destructive weather event. 

Multiple warnings have been put in place across the country ahead of Storm Darragh.

A status orange wind warning for very strong and gusty northwest winds for Donegal is valid from 10pm on Friday until 10am on Saturday while a status yellow warning for heavy rain on Friday followed by heavy showers Saturday morning is in place until 10 am on Saturday.

Donegal County Council has urged the public to exercise extreme caution and only travel if it is absolutely essential.

Met Éireann says Storm Darragh will bring wet and very windy or stormy conditions on Friday night with winds that  will turn northwesterly and will become very strong, with severe and damaging gusts, and storm force winds on Atlantic coasts.