Updated: 2pm
Met Éireann is warning of the possibility of downed trees, power outages and travel disruption as strong winds batter the country.
Donegal has been upgraded to an orange alert for Thursday afternoon, ahead of gale force winds with some "severe and damaging gusts".
The rest of the country will remain under a yellow wind warning which took effect from 5am on Thursday.
The orange warning for Donegal set in at 2pm and will remain in place until 8pm on Thursday, while the yellow alert is due to last until 2am on Friday.
"Westerly winds will be very strong and gusty today, in the west at first, progressing eastwards in the afternoon," the forecaster said.
A wind warning for #Donegal has been issued
Strong winds with some severe & damaging gusts, with winds reaching storm force in coastal areas may cause
🌳 Downed trees
⚡️ Power outages
🚗 Travel disruption
Valid: Today 12/01, 14:00-20:00
More here 👇https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/yF6KY9TWm4— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 12, 2023
Met Éireann added the winds will reach storm force in coast areas in the northwest.
A similar yellow warning has also been issued by the UK Met Office for the six counties in the North, lasting from 3pm on Thursday to 3am on Friday.
In an update on Thursday afternoon, Met Éireann added a yellow alert for rain for Donegal and Leitrim from midday to midnight.
Two marine warnings are in place for Thursday, including a status orange storm warning from Slyne Head to Rossan Point to Malin Head from 11am to 6pm.
Very windy today, Thursday with strong & gusty westerly winds. 🍃
Wind warning details for Thursday ➡️https://t.co/daaKPKyROX
Sunny spells & showers, frequent and prolonged across Ulster with a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail🌦️⛈️
Afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8C pic.twitter.com/EQSEgR5p6p— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 12, 2023
Met Éireann warned southwest to west winds in these areas are predicted to reach storm force 10.
The second marine alert - a yellow gale warning - is also in place for all coasts and the Irish Sea, lasting from 4am on Thursday to 8am on Friday when winds are expected to reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9.
