Schools in Laois are set to close on Friday as Met Eireann has extended its Status Red warning to include Laois.
This is as the arrival of Storm Éowyn is expected to cause significant disruption and ‘danger to life’ – with Laois under a Red warning from 6am to 12pm.
As a result, schools and childcare settings in impacted counties are set to close.
All counties except for Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford will be under a red warning for wind at various stages of Friday in what is expected to one of the strongest storms to hit Ireland in years.
Red warnings will be in place from 2am until 3pm on Friday, with gusts in excess of 130kmh expected.
A Red wind warning for counties Clare and Galway will come in from 3am on Friday and remain in place until 12pm.
Counties Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo will be under a Red wind warning from 4am until 12pm on Friday.
A Status red wind warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary will run from 6am to 12pm on Friday.
Following a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), it has been decided that schools, early learning and childcare settings and further and higher education incidents will close in the areas under a Status Red warning.
Employers in those areas should facilitate work from home for all who can do so, while only emergency service workers should be leaving home for work, where directed by their employer.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met today (Wednesday) as red level weather warnings have been issued for some counties and Storm Éowyn is forecast to bring very dangerous and destructive winds on Thursday night and Friday.
Keith Leonard, Chair of the NECG, said: “Storm Éowyn is going to be a very dangerous and destructive weather event.
“The forecasted winds have the capacity to bring severe, damaging winds which will constitute a risk to life and property.
“During the Red Level wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter in place.
“Where Orange warnings are in place, the public are also advised to limit travel to essential journeys only. An orange wind warning should not be underestimated – it can bring extremely strong gusts and can also pose a threat to life and property.
“I would urge people to stay away from coastal areas during this period and to heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard for people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.
“It’s also important to remember that even after the storm has passed, there is a strong possibility of fallen trees and other debris so drivers are also urged to take care in the aftermath of the storm.”
SEE ALSO – ‘We bought a house in March and now we’re homeless’ – How a dream Laois home turned into a nightmare
