Batten down the hatches – here comes Storm Diana

BATTEN down the hatches – Storm Diana is on the way and Kilkenny is right in the firing line, according to Met Éireann forecasters.

Kilkenny is one of 16 counties across the county included in a Status Yellow wind warning as the storm approaches.

The county is also among 13 unlucky counties who have been put under a Status Yellow rainfall warning.

Gusts of up to 100km/h are expected to hit our shores in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The warning alerts will remain in place until 3pm tomorrow at the earliest.

Met Éireann confirmed today: “Wind warning for Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

“Southeasterly winds will strengthen tonight and during Tuesday. Mean speeds of 50-65km/hr with gusts from 90-100km/hr expected, possibly higher along exposed coasts.”

Meanwhile, large parts of the country will be lashed by storm showers, with up to 30mm of rainfall expected over a short period of time.

The rainfall warning, issued this morning, is valid from 2am tomorrow morning until 2pm.

Met Éireann confirmed: “Rainfall warning for Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway and Mayo. Heavy rainfall later tonight (Monday) and for a time on Tuesday.

“20-30mm is expected to fall over a short period, leading to some surface flooding. Higher totals are expected in mountainous areas.”

Storm Diana has been building in the mid-Atlantic and is forecast to arrive in Ireland by the middle of the week.