Wind warning for Mayo upgraded to Orange Status

A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for Mayo for tomorrow.

The alert has been upgraded from Status Yellow due to growing concerns over Storm Barra.

The Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann Evelyn Cusask has said that there is "a danger to life" as well as a risk of snow and flooding from Storm Barra over the next two days.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, she said the local authorities and emergency services are preparing for multiple hazards brought about by "a significant and severe weather event" which will start before dawn tomorrow.

She said the storm will being very heavy rainfalls of between 50mm and 70mm.

Ms. Cusack stated Storm Barra will hit the west coast between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. tomorrow morning and will quickly extend across the country.

She said it will be "a very bad morning everywhere" with very strong and gale-force southeasterly winds, accompanied by driving rain and snow in places.

She said snow could be blizzards for a few hours in parts of Donegal, Sligo and the North West.

Disruption to power and travel are likely.

The warning is valid from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow.