Yellow and Orange Wind Warnings in place for Storm Jorge

UPDATE 1600: Update from Met Eireann

Yellow wind warning now in place until 10pm. More at http://met.ie

Strong and gusty winds associated with Storm Jorge (Hor-Hay) will continue before easing later tonight. Southwest winds veering westerly will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h and gusts of 90 to 110km/h, higher in exposed places until 6pm.

Issued: 14:58 Saturday 29/02/2020

Valid from: 15:00 Saturday 29/02/2020 to 22:00 Saturday 29/02/2020

UPDATE 15.00: The Estuary Recyling Centre in Swords has been closed due to high winds. 

The Status Yellow Warning comes into effect at 09:00 and will escalate to Status Orange from 13:00 to 19:00 during which they are forecasting winds between 65kmh and 80kmh for a time this afternoon and early evening with gusts of 110kmh to 120kmh and possibly higher. The Wind Warning then reduces to Status Yellow from 19:00 until 23.59.

Fingal County Council has activated its Crisis Management Team and its Severe Weather Assessment Team in response to the Severe Weather Warning issued by Met Eireann for today.

The Council’s focus at present is preparing to deal with localised flooding, fallen trees and damage to property in the aftermath of the storm. Plans are in place to deploy all available resources to deal with issues arising from Storm Jorge and will try to resolve issues which occur as quickly as possible. Operations and Water Services crews have been placed on standby as have the Emergency Management Unit and Civil Defence.  

Citizens are advised to check their properties and ensure that items which could be blown away, such as garden furniture and flower pots, are secured or removed indoors. They are also advised to prepare for power cuts and be aware of the dangers posed by fallen power lines. Business owners and homeowners are also advised to check their own drains.

Members of the public are advised to stay away from beaches, harbours and coastal walkways and to remain indoors. Boat owners are being urged to check moorings and vessels before the weather worsens.

Members of the public and elected representatives can submit reports of issues caused by flooding and falling trees to www.fixyourstreet.ie. Issues can also be phoned in to 01-8905000, which is manned on a 24/7 basis. These reports will be logged and assessed. 

Within communities, contact should be made with elderly and vulnerable neighbours before, during and after the storm.  Reports of people sleeping rough should be phoned to 1800 707 707 or posted online at http://www.homelessdublin.ie/report-rough-sleeper#1

At the moment all community centres, libraries, parks, heritage properties and other public facilities, such as recycling centres, will be open today but updates will be posted as required through our usual communications channels including the Fingal Alerts App, our website, www.fingal.ie, and our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. The hashtag being used by Government agencies in relation to this event is #StormJorge.

Citizens requiring further information on how to prepare for the impending storm should log on to www.emergency.ie and keep monitoring Met Éireann forecasts to be aware of the weather conditions. Everybody is advised to heed any safety warnings issued by statutory agencies.