Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
Galway, Ireland – Residents of Galway and Mayo are preparing for extreme weather conditions as the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto make their way to the west coast of Ireland. Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow wind warning for both counties, advising residents to brace for unseasonably strong winds and potential coastal flooding.
The storm, which initially battered the southeastern United States, has since been absorbed by a powerful jet stream. This jet stream, according to the UK Met Office, is expected to drive successive areas of low pressure towards Ireland, with winds potentially reaching up to 170 mph (273 kph) at their peak. The warning from the Met Office highlighted that the jet stream could lead to “successive areas of low pressure in from the west towards the weekend.”
Ireland’s Weather Channel has echoed these concerns, warning of “heavy rain and strong winds” that will impact the country beginning Wednesday night. The channel also warned of strong onshore winds and high tides that could lead to coastal flooding along the Atlantic coast. Wind speeds in some areas could reach up to 110 km/h during the initial wave of the storm.
The second day of the storm is expected to bring even more severe conditions, with wind speeds potentially increasing to 120 km/h. This could lead to localized flooding and damage, particularly in areas already vulnerable to such weather events.
In response to the impending storm, Galway City Council has taken precautionary measures, including closing several roads and car parks that are susceptible to flooding. Toft Car Park and Salthill Car Park will be closed to the public from 1 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, until further notice. Additionally, Silverstrand Road/Car Park and Ballyloughane Beach Road will be restricted to local access only.
Met Éireann’s warning specifically for Galway and Mayo was issued on Tuesday afternoon, emphasizing the potential impacts of the storm, which include coastal flooding, wave overtopping, and damage to temporary structures. The warning is in effect from 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, to 2:00 am on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
The combination of the storm’s powerful winds and a supermoon is expected to result in unusually high tides, exacerbating the risk of flooding along the coast. Galway City Council has stated that they will continue to monitor the situation and may implement additional road closures as needed.
As the storm approaches, residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.