ORANGE ALERT: Batten down the hatches – Kilkenny to be battered by 130kph gales as Storm Aiden unleashes fury

Kilkenny is set to be battered by winds of up to 130kph tomorrow as the first storm of the season is set to hit the south of Ireland.

Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange Wind Warning, which it expects to hit Kilkenny early tomorrow morning.

The weather system is associated with what is being called ‘Storm Aiden’ and its effects will be felt in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny.

The warning states: “On Saturday morning strong southerly winds veering southwesterly associated with Storm Aiden will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80km/h, with severe and damaging gusts of 100 to 130km/h.”

The warning comes into effect from 5am tomorrow morning and will remain in place until 10am.

A Yellow Wind Warning will also be in effect for most of the rest of the country tomorrow, which will remain in place until 3pm.