Flooding likely as high tides coincide with 120km/h gusts

There is strong potential for flooding along coastal areas in Galway tomorrow, as high tides coincide with predicted gusts of up to 120km/h.

Met Éireann have put a Status Orange weather warning in place from 9am on Thursday until 6am on Friday.

Southerly winds, later veering southwest then west, with mean speeds of 55 to 80km/h, will gust between 100 and 120km/h. Winds will be strongest near coastal areas, peaking Thursday evening into early Thursday night.

The storm force gusts will coincide with a high tide of 4.9 metres in Galway at around 5.25pm – a high tide of five metres is the marker at which flooding is likely in Salthill, Spanish Arch and coastal areas around the county.

There will also be a high tide of 5.0 metres at 5.40am on Friday, although winds are expected to have died down by then.

Galway City Council has warned motorists not to park in the main carpark in Salthill, or at Toft carpark behind Seapoint.

“Don’t walk the Prom if there are high winds, you’re a danger to yourself and to others who may have to rescue you. Gusting winds on exposed coasts, as well as high tides, are a dangerous combination,” a spokesperson said.