A STATUS Orange weather warning has been upgraded to the highest level and people are urged to seek shelter.
Earlier today, we reported on the approach of Storm Ellen and the Yellow and Orange Weather Warnings which had been put in place on the entire island, north and south of the border.
The Orange Wind Warning-- issued for Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Waterford-- is due to come into effect from 9pm tonight until midday tomorrow.
However, Met Éireann has upgraded the warning for those in Cork from Orange to Red, the highest level, and has warned of "a core of very severe and destructive winds", in place from 9pm until midnight tonight.
Status red warning for Cork
For all current warnings see here :https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt pic.twitter.com/gmGf5RZS8x— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 19, 2020
With holidaymakers flocking to Cork, tourists in holiday homes or on campsites in the southwest of the county have been urged to seek shelter or find accommodation as the storm approaches.
Cork County Council staff members are attempting to get in touch with visitors to the area who "are not local to the area and are not familiar with the conditions and storm force gales that we are exposed to in southwest Cork", according to RTÉ.
Western Europe + Atlantic Infra Red Satellite Animation showing Track of #StormEllen.
All current warnings see https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt pic.twitter.com/KbUdEuepM5— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 19, 2020
Storm Ellen, the tail-end of ex-tropical Hurricane Kyle, will hit Irish shores at around 9pm this evening, and Red, Orange and Yellow wind warnings are in place across the country.
There are concerns of further Red Warnings being issued for other parts of the country, according to Ireland's Weather Channel, with peak winds expected to reach 185km per hour.
The damaging effect of the storm, along with spring tides and onshore winds means there is a risk of localised and coastal flooding.
