Orange Weather Alert

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to take extreme care when using the roads this weekend as Met Éireann has issued an orange weather alert warning of extreme winds from Saturday afternoon through to early Sunday morning.

The forecast is for south-westerly winds, veering west, with mean speeds of 65 to 80km/h, reaching gusts of 110 km/h and130km/h, in exposed coasts and headlands, for a time on Saturday evening and early night. There will be high seas and some high tides and coastal flooding is possible.

The RSA also advises road users to:

Beware of objects being blown out onto the road and to expect the unexpected. In particular watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road. Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.

Drivers should allow extra space around vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists as they may be blown off course by strong winds. Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Pedestrians and cyclists are advised to take extra care in extremely windy conditions, as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.