130km/h gusts forecast as Storm Gertrude hits Galway

Met Éireann has upgraded a wind warning for overnight tonight to ‘Status Orange’, with gusts of up to 130km/h expected to batter Galway, as Storm Gertrude arrives.

Although tides are not as high as earlier this week, there is potential for flooding in Salthill and other coastal areas, caused by overlapping of the sea.

Galway City Council has warned motorists to move their cars from carparks in Salthill as soon as possible.

Southwesterly winds, which will later veer westerly, will increase 65 to 80km/h overnight and will gist 110 to 130km/h at times. The strongest winds will be in western and northern coastal areas.

The warning is in effect from midnight tonight (Thursday) until 9am tomorrow.

“A rapidly deepening Atlantic depression will pass to the north of Scotland during Friday. It will bring a swathe of severe winds across Ireland, Scotland and northern England through Thursday night and Friday.
“Orange-status warnings have been issued by both Met Éireann and the UK Met Office for their respective areas of responsibility. The storm has been named Gertrude,” Met Éireann said.

High tide is at 8.16am tomorrow, with a tide reaching 4.6 metres – significantly below the 5m ‘danger mark’ for Galway – and lower than the 5.1m recorded last Tuesday morning in the Salthill floods.

A City Council warning reads: “The Council advises people with vehicles parked there to remove them as soon as possible. The worst of the weather is due on Sunday afternoon through to Monday.

“Later on this evening (Thursday ) will also be windy, with a possibility of flooding in Toft Car Park and the Prom. The Prom may be closed for periods over the weekend, but Galway City Council will monitor the situation. People are also advised not to leave their cars in either of the car parks along the Prom.”

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users today to take extreme care.

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, pedestrians and motorcyclists as they may be blown off course by strong winds.
Use dipped headlights at all times of poor visibility not parking/side lights and fog lights.
• Pedestrians should take extra care when crossing the road and cyclists when cycling in traffic as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
• Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt.
Pedestrians should walk on a footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths.