More counties issued with weather warnings as Storm Barra hits Ireland

Multiple red and orange warnings have already been issued.

Met Éireann has issued two further Status Orange wind warnings for the counties of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo following the arrival of Storm Barra to Ireland. The first of the new warnings to come into effect is for Leitrim and Sligo and will be valid from 8pm on Tuesday to 8am on Wednesday. The second applies to Donegal and will take effect from 2am on Wednesday to 2pm later that day. Both state that winds will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h with "severe or damaging gusts" of 100 to 130 km/h. "Due to a combination of high waves, storm surge and high tide, coastal flooding is expected," they read. "Disruption to power and travel are likely." https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1468158557338091523 Met Éireann had previously issued a number of weather warnings in relation to Storm Barra. Currently, Cork and Kerry are under a Status Red wind warning until 9pm on Tuesday, while another Status Red wind warning will kick into effect for Clare from 4pm on Tuesday to 1am. Also, a Status Orange wind warning is in effect for Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, Waterford and Wexford until 6am on Wednesday, while another is currently valid for Dublin, East Meath, Louth and Wicklow until 1pm on Tuesday. On top of these, the entire country has been hit with a Status Yellow wind and rain warning, which is in effect from now until 6pm on Wednesday. Gardaí have warned the public not to make any unnecessary journeys in areas with red or orange weather warnings. Meanwhile, thousands of homes have been left without electricity as Storm Barra continues to batter the country. ESB Networks has recorded faults throughout Ireland, with the majority occurring in coastal counties. The most heavily impacted area on Tuesday morning was Donegal, where nearly 15,000 customers have been affected by a fault in Ardnagappary. Speaking on Morning Ireland on Tuesday, Education Minister Norma Foley said schools affected by Storm Barra are expected to reopen on Wednesday. "We believe - all things going well - that this will be a single-day event," she said.