Major Storm Warning - Storm Éowyn

Storm Éowyn will bring extremely dangerous and damaging winds on Friday 24th January in what will be an extremely damaging and dangerous storm event.

Met Éireann has issued a status red wind warning from 6am until 11am on Friday, 24th January for County Cavan. Either side of that period, an orange wind warning will be effective for the entire country from 00:01am until 5pm on Friday. 

The national weather forecaster predicts that Storm Éowyn will bring gale force winds, including severe, damaging and destructive gusts of up to 130km/hr. 

Possible impacts include:
  • Risk to life
  • Fallen trees
  • Dangerous travel conditions
  • Unsafe working conditions
  • localised flooding 
  • Damage to power lines
  • Debris, loose objects displaced, falling roof tiles
  • Damage to already-weakened structures

All council public offices, amenities, and facilities, including all library branches, Cavan Motor Tax office, Cavan County Museum, Bridge Street Centre, Cavan Digital Hub, Ramor and Townhall Arts Centres, Cavan Leisure Centre, Cavan Burren Park, and civic amenity sites at Corranure, Ballyconnell, and Bailieborough, will be closed on Friday, 24th January.

Council-run facilities that would normally open on weekends, i.e. libraries, museum, theatres, etc, will remain closed on Saturday, 25th January and Sunday, 26th January also.

Cavan County Council's Severe Weather Assessment (SWAT) Team has been monitoring the situation in coordination with the National Coordination Group and Met Éireann over the past 48 hours and will continue to closely observe the developing situation. The Council's Severe Weather Response Plan has been activated, the Crisis Management Team and Local Coordination Group has been convened, and response teams will be on standby.

Please note that, following Government advice and in line with protocol being followed by all local authorities nationwide, council crews will not be responding to calls for the duration of the status red warning to minimise the risk to staff. In life-threatening situations, fire service crews will respond to calls during this time. 

Advice for householders

  • During any status red wind warnings, the public are advised to shelter in place and to not go outdoors or undertake any journeys.
  • The public are advised to limit travel to essential in areas where an orange level warning is in place.
  • Ensure any large items such as lawn furniture or trampolines are secured
  • Power outages are likely to occur in certain parts of the country.
  • The public are advised to prepare for the arrival of the storm including ensuring their mobile devices are fully charged in advance to enable communication.
  • The ESB is advising the public to stay away from fallen cables that may have broken due to the high winds. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. 
  • If you smell gas, call Gas Networks Ireland's emergency number at 1800 20 50 50.
  • Charge all devices and any battery packs, and have a torch or candles to hand
  • People are asked to check in on isolated and vulnerable neighbours in advance of the oncoming severe weather and again after the worst of the event has passed.
  • Uisce Éireann customers can check the website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via their 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. The public can also sign up online to our free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies - see www.water.ie

The public is advised to monitor Met Éireann forecasts for their area and to be aware of the weather conditions and to heed safety warnings.

Cavan County Council crews and Fire Brigade crews will be mobilised to deal with any emergency situations as they develop. Cavan County Council's out of hours emergency phone number is 087 611 8116. During office hours, call 049 437 8300. Please reserve these phone lines for genuine urgent situations. Remember, for Gardaí, Ambulance, or Fire Brigade, dial 999 or 112.

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr TP O'Reilly is urging the public to heed safety advice, "This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime storm and is going to be extremely dangerous. Please take on board the advice of Met Éireann and seek shelter during the status red warning, and don't travel. You're putting your own life and the life of the emergency services at risk if you do. I'd like to thank all of the first-responders and our own council staff who are always on standby to help in our community's hour of need".

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Eoin Doyle said, "This is an extremely severe storm event, and Cavan County Council has taken every possibly precaution to minimise the damage caused and to ensure we are ready to begin the clean-up once the storm passes. Our Severe Weather Assessment Team has been meeting throughout and our Crisis Management Team and Emergency Local Coordination Group have convened and are monitoring proceedings closely. Thanks to Met Éireann, we have extremely accurate forecasts, and I would encourage the public to keep an eye on these updates and to ensure they are indoors and sheltered for the duration of the status red warning, and indeed to consider staying indoors during the status orange warning".

Advice for Driving in storm conditions

The Road Safety Authority has the following advice for road users:

  • Consider whether your journey is absolutely necessary. Do not drive during Status Red wind warnings.
  • Drivers need to slow down and allow a greater braking distance between themselves and the vehicle in front in wet weather conditions. This is especially important on high-speed roads such as dual carriageways and motorways where there is increased danger of aquaplaning.
  • Take special care when driving behind goods vehicles, as they generate a considerable amount of spray, which reduces your visibility. Hold back to where you can see their mirrors.
  • If the road ahead is flooded, choose another route. Do not attempt to drive through it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think. The verge may have subsided and there may also be trees or branches that have fallen that may not be visible.
  • Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic that have been put there by the local council or An Garda Síochána.
  • After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance - this helps to dry the brakes.
  • Be Safe. Be Seen. Drive with dipped headlights at all times to ensure that you are visible and that you can see other road users.
  • Beware of objects being blown out onto the road. Expect the unexpected.
  • 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 between themselves and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists as they may be blown off course by strong winds.
  • Drive with dipped headlights at all times.

Advice to Pedestrians, Cyclists, and motorcyclists:

  • Seek shelter during a status red wind warning. Do not travel during these conditions. It's also advised to not make unnecessary journeys during a status orange warning.
  • Be Safe. Be Seen. Visibility and light are reduced in poor weather conditions. Keep safe by making sure you can be seen. Wear bright clothing and consider wearing high visibility material.
  • Make extra care when crossing the road or cycling in extremely windy conditions, as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
  • Cyclists should ensure that they and their bike are visible to other road users by investing in a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back) and by wearing clothes that help you be seen on your bike. Consider wearing high visibility material.
  • Walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths.

For advice on severe weather driving tips, please see severe weather advice on the RSA website or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

Further information

As the storm progresses, Cavan County Council will post updates about road closures etc on its social media. Follow Cavan County Council on Facebook, X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or alternatively, sign up to our WhatsApp channel, for updates straight to your phone.