Ireland: Storm Darragh warnings upgraded with 80mph winds due in NI

The island of Ireland is set to come under the second highest level of warning due to Storm Darragh moving in from the Atlantic later on Friday.

An amber warning for wind has been issued for Northern Ireland from 01:00 GMT on Saturday until 21:00 on Saturday.Before then, a yellow warning for wind and rain comes into force at 15:00 on Friday with the rain warning expiring at 12:00 on Saturday.

The yellow wind warning will remain and is set to stay in place until 06:00 on Sunday.

A number of festive outdoor events have already been affected by the weather warnings in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, red alerts have been issued by Met Éireann, the Republic of Ireland’s weather service, for the west coast of Ireland.

The highest level of warning has been issued for Mayo, Clare, Galway, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

The red alert is set to come into force for several hours on Friday night as the highest gusts hit the west coast.Storm Darragh is the fourth named storm of the season, following storms Ashley, Bert and Conall.

The strongest winds will reach the west coast of Ireland on Friday night before moving east across the island.

The Met Office is expecting gusts around the coast of Northern Ireland to reach speeds about 80mph (130km/h) from early on Saturday morning.

That is when Friday’s yellow warning will be temporarily upgraded to amber.Gusts between 60-70mph (100-115km/h) are likely inland before winds ease from the west through Saturday afternoon.

The Met Office has also issued a red warning for wind for parts of Wales and the Bristol Channel area of England on Saturday.

Met Éireann has issued its second highest level of warning for wind, Status Orange, across the country from Friday evening.

It is set stay in place until 10:00 on Saturday, but a yellow warning for wind will remain in pace until 15:00.

Belfast City Council has said the Christmas market at City Hall will be closed on Saturday.

“We recognise this may be disappointing, however the safety of our visitors and traders is of the utmost importance,” the council said in a statement.

It plans to reopen on Sunday if the weather permits.

The Enchanted Winter Gardens at Antrim Castle has been cancelled on Friday and Saturday.

Ards and North Down Borough Council hascancelled its Christmas weekend at Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport.

The Christmas fair in Saintfield which was due to take place on Friday evening has also been cancelled.

Lisburn and Castlereagh Council said a number of events in its Christmas programme would be delayed due to the weather, including the Dundonald Christmas Market.

Newry Mourne and Down District Council has rescheduled the Christmas craft activities which were due to take place in Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday.

National Trust Mid Ulster has cancelled its Twilight Market on Friday and day one of their Christmas Fair on Saturday, which were due to take place in the Argory in Dungannon.

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