alt="Storm Boelo weather warnings across Ireland" title="Storm Warning – Met Éireann weather warning map showing red, orange and yellow alerts across Ireland as Storm Boelo approaches. Image: Met Éireann"/> Met Éireann has issued multiple weather warnings for Storm Boelo, which will bring gale-force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts and spells of heavy rain.
Strong onshore winds, high tides, surge and large waves may cause overtopping and coastal flooding in the west and northwest from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.
High sea levels may also slow river discharge, raising flood risk.
Weather warnings
The warnings include:
- A Status Orange rain warning for Galway and Kerry from 7am to 2pm on Saturday.
- A Status Orange wind warning for Donegal, Leitrim, Galway, Mayo and Sligo from 2pm on Saturday until 9am on Sunday.
- A Status Yellow rain warning for Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo from 4am to 3pm on Saturday.
- A Status Yellow wind warning for Clare, Kerry, Limerick and all of Connacht from 1pm on Saturday until noon on Sunday.
- A Status Yellow wind warning for Cavan and Monaghan from 6pm on Saturday until noon on Sunday.
A Status Orange marine storm warning also forecasts west to northwest winds reaching storm force 10 at times from Erris Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough, from 6pm on Saturday until 10am on Sunday.
High tide advisory for Galway
A High Tide Advisory has also been issued for the Galway coast and is valid from 3pm on Saturday, 24 October, until 7am on Sunday, 25 October.
Galway City Council advises that Toft Car Park, Salthill, will be closed to the public from Friday, 23 October, until further notice.
Silverstrand Road and car park and Salthill Car Park will be closed to the public from Saturday, 24 October, until further notice.
Ballyloughane Beach Road will be for local access only from Saturday until further notice.
Merlin Woods and Barna Woods will be closed to the public from Saturday until further notice. All facilities in Merlin Woods are closed, including public footpaths, Merlin Allotments, the Community Garden and Galway City Council containers in use by community groups. These areas will remain closed until a safety assessment has been completed after the storm.
A section of Rosshill Road from Old Dublin Road to the Ross Allta housing estate, adjacent to the wooded area, will be closed from Saturday until further notice.
Galway City Museum will be closed to the public from 1pm on Saturday until further notice.
Crews will be on site monitoring weather conditions, and further road closures may be implemented if required.
The flood barrier is in place at Spanish Arch.
Sandbags
Sandbags will be available to the public from Saturday, 24 October, at the following locations:
- Adjacent to Salthill Aquarium
- Claddagh Hall
- Fire Station on Fr Griffin Road
- Spanish Arch
- New Dock Street
- Entrance to Mutton Island Causeway
Public safety advice
Visit Met Éireann for the latest weather information. Galway City Council has published its storm precautions and closure notices.
ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and emergency services to stay away from these cables and report them immediately.
ESB Emergency Services can be contacted on 1800 372 999. The public can monitor PowerCheck.ie for power restoration times.
