Ireland is bracing itself for the impact of Storm Lilian, the first storm to be given a name since April, as it is predicted to sweep across the country during the night, carrying heavy rainfall and fierce winds. The storm’s approach comes shortly after the destructive waves of Wednesday night, a result of the remnants of Atlantic Hurricane Ernesto combined with incredibly high tides. A large portion of the nation, including the counties of Galway, Roscommon, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Clare and Westmeath, has been issued a yellow warning for expected intense rain from Thursday night at 10pm to 4am Friday morning.
In addition to this, areas spanning from Carlingford Lough to Hook Head to Loop Head, as well as the Irish Sea, have been issued a gale alert for Thursday night, while a small craft warning has also been indicated for northwest coast. Storm Lilian comes along with warnings of rain and wind, with a potential threat of flooding in coastal regions as remnants of Hurricane Ernesto approach Ireland. Met Éireann has also issued a status yellow weather warning for Friday which covers all of Munster, including the counties of Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow, predicting unsettlingly strong winds.
The warning comes into effect from midnight and lasts until 6am on Friday. Met Éireann mentioned that these strong winds would coincide with high tides. Storm Lilian was named by the UK Met Office which foresees adverse weather in England, Scotland, and Wales. This storm succeeds Storm Kathleen which occurred in April. Currently, it is the 12th storm of the season that is to occur in the September to September period, making it the furthest in the list of names assigned by the Western European storm-naming group, since the system’s inception in 2015.
Galway city witnessed council staff working overnight into Thursday morning, specifically in Spanish Arch, where high tide led to some overtopping. The road between Seapoint and Galway Business School was blockaded at both ends and Salthill car parks remained shut on Thursday morning. Footage on social media captured the violent seas and overtopping that had occurred on Wednesday evening in Salthill. The difficult driving and walking conditions were a result of the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto combining with very high tides.
Kinvara experienced flooding as ocean water surged, surpassing the jetty and lifting multiple vessels. A yellow maritime storm alert is also in effect, commencing from Carlingford Lough in the county of Louth, extending along the coastline to Loop Head in county Clare. These alerts are active from Thursday 9pm and remain until 9am on the following Friday.