Storm Dave to Impact Northern Ireland with Strong Winds
Forecasters have issued warnings for winds reaching up to 80 mph on Saturday evening as Storm Dave approaches Northern Ireland.
The Met Office has extended a yellow weather warning, which starts at 14:00 BST, by an additional hour until 03:00 on Sunday morning.
The Met Office is warning of possible damage, power cuts and disruption to travel.
In response, some council facilities have been closed, and the public is advised to avoid forests, country parks, and nature reserves until the strong winds subside.
A rapidly deepening area of low pressure is forecast to move north across the island of Ireland on Saturday and continue overnight into Easter Sunday.
Although there is some uncertainty regarding the precise path of the storm, a period of strong winds is anticipated through Saturday night and into early Sunday, with conditions expected to improve later in the day.
There is also a possibility that wind gusts could briefly reach up to 80 mph on Saturday evening.
Mid Ulster District Council has proactively closed several visitor attractions and caravan parks in preparation for the storm.
The Maritime and Coast Guard agency has issued safety advice urging people to maintain a safe distance from cliff edges and to avoid walking near the base of cliffs during the storm.
Warnings Issued for the Republic of Ireland
A yellow weather warning has also been issued for the Republic of Ireland, effective from Saturday afternoon.
The alert, issued by the Irish weather service Met Éireann, is in place from 13:00 local time on Saturday until 02:00 on Sunday.
The organisation is warning of travel disruption as well as fallen trees and large coastal waves.
