PEOPLE IN Ireland are being urged to stay indoors and only make essential journeys with Storm Jorge set to impact large regions of the country.
Flooding, fallen trees and power cuts are just a few of the potential risks facing large sections of Ireland today.
It comes as a Status Red weather warning from Met Eireann comes into effect in Galway and Clare with winds of up to 80km/h with gusts of up to 130km/h forecast.
Status Orange wind warnings are in effect for the remainder of Ireland with gusts of up to 130km/h predicted.
Met Éireann is also forecasting hail, sleet and snow which will spread eastwards during the morning and is likely to result in poor visibility and hazardous driving conditions.
Motorists are being urged by Gardai to limit travel to essential journeys only, plan all travel carefully and exercise extreme caution with debris expected on many roads.
Elsewhere, Status Yellow rain warnings have been issued for Munster, Connacht and Donegal, and Status Yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for the entire country.
Irish electricity supplier ESB is also bracing itself for large swathes of power cuts across the country with 1,700 workers on standby for repairs and extra crews have already dispatched to Galway, Clare, Limerick and Athlone.
Storm Jorge is the seventh named storm this winter but the third since the start of February.
