Public in Red weather warning areas urged to stay in this evening

Clare County Council has urged members of the public to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary journeys this evening as a Status Red weather warning takes effect.

A Red warning has been issue from 8 to 11pm for County Clare and from 6pm to 8pm for County Kerry this evening. Red is the most severe level of warning and implies that people affected should "take action to protect themselves and/or their properties," according to Met Éireann. In a statement Clare County Council the public "to stay indoors and to avoid all travel from 8.00pm to 11.00pm tonight”.

"Overnight travel thereafter should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary," Director of Services for Clare County Council Carmel Kirby told RTÉ News. "Organisers of events taking place in County Clare this evening are being advised to postpone events in the interests of public safety. "The advice to the public is go home, tie up any loose ends that around and stay indoors from around 7pm. High winds are likely to cause a lot of debris and we’re expecting fallen trees."

Met Éireann has issued a number of warnings for across the country ahead of Storm Hannah's arrival. A Status Orange wind warning was today issued for Galway from 7pm to 12am this tonight. Earlier this morning, an additional weather warning was issued for Tipperary and Waterford for tonight from 10pm to tomorrow morning at 2am. An Orange wind warning is in place for Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick from 4pm today until 5am tomorrow and Tipperary and Waterford from 10pm tonight until 2am tomorrow. There is also a Yellow wind warning in place from 11pm today until 9am tomorrow for Connacht, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Wicklow, Offaly, Donegal, Tipperary and Waterford.