Storm Dennis set to hit Northern Ireland with '60-70 mph' gales this weekend
Here we go again ⚠️💨🌲🍃
Dennis, the fourth named storm of winter, is set to bring a second consecutive weekend of wet and windy weather.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for blustery conditions.
"Very strong winds are likely through Sunday evening and early Monday across Northern Ireland. Expect gusts of 50 to 60 mph across many inland areas, with 70, possible around exposed Irish Sea coasts."
Coastal communities may be hit by spray or large waves, and there could be delays to road, rail and air traffic. Bands of heavy rain sweeping eastwards will present an additional hazard.
The strongest winds could coincide with Monday morning's commute.
The warning comes into effect from 12:00 Sunday lasting through until midday Monday.
NORTHERN IRELAND FOUR/FIVE DAY FORECAST
Thursday - Rain clearing to leave a dry and bright day with some good spells of sunshine. High 8°C / Low 3°C
Friday - Heavy rain spreading east then clearing towards midday to leave a brighter afternoon with blustery showers. High 11°C / Low 5°C
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Very unsettled with heavy blustery showers or longer spells of occasionally heavy rain. It will also be very windy with mainly southwesterly gales or severe gales, especially Sunday and Monday.
STORM NAMES FOR THE 2019/2020 SEASON
Storms are named by the Met Office or, in Ireland, Met Eireann, in order to raise public awareness of approaching bad weather.
In September, the Met Office and Met Éireann unvealed a list of the names of this seasons storms.
First introduced in 2015, this is the fourth year they have jointly run the ‘Name our Storms’ scheme, aimed at raising awareness of severe weather before it hits.
The first storm was ‘male’ and named Ali, while the second storm will be ‘female’ and named Bronagh, following the alternating male/female pattern established by the US National Hurricane Center in the 1970s.