Met Eireann have issued an 'orange' weather alert for St. Stephen's Day and predict winds will reach up to 130 kmh. According to The Irish Independent, the storm wasn’t due to hit the island until Friday, however is now to touch land over our shores during Stephen’s Day. “It will be stormy again tomorrow evening – it will be happening earlier than we thought as it has sped up. ” Met Eireann forecaster Harm Luijkx said today. “The storm will reach us tomorrow afternoon or evening. "There will be very high winds near the South West coast which will spread and this has the potential of disruption or possible damage,” he added. The news comes just days after some 30,000 homes in the West of Ireland lost power, while many homes in the UK have been evacuated due to severe flooding. Be careful out and drive safely, folks.