Latest news with #MaeveMcTaggart
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
‘Very difficult' travel conditions and some homes without power after torrential rain
Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warning for four counties on Monday with risk of widespread surface flooding and very difficult travelling conditions. The alert, covering counties Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into force at midnight on Monday and will last until 2pm. Impacts include 'very difficult' travelling conditions, lightning damage and 'very poor' visibility. A Status Yellow rain warning is also in place for Kildare and Monaghan from midnight on Monday until 2pm. The national forecaster said potential impacts include localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions. Some employers have told employees to work from home where possible to avoid travelling. Meanwhile, the UK Met Office issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm Sunday and 6pm on Monday. A Status Amber/Orange rain warning for Antrim, Armagh and Down expired at 8am on Monday. There will be scattered heavy showers and longer spells of rain, especially across parts of the midlands and mid-west this evening. However, temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees are expected before another rather damp night tonight, with rain heaviest across the east of the country as temperatures hit lows of 13 to 15 degrees. The new week will start with further showers, heaviest over parts of Leinster and east Ulster with spot flooding possible before conditions brighten in parts of the west and south tomorrow evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees are expected, before another mild and rather wet day on Tuesday when temperatures hit highs of 16 to 19 degrees despite widespread showers in the afternoon. Met Éireann expects the coming days to feature 'generally mixed conditions' to start the week, forecasting 'showers or longer spells of, at times heavy, rain with spot flooding possible'. There will be fewer showers by midweek. Sunny spells and scattered showers are expected on Wednesday, with rain becoming less heavy than previous days and more isolated by evening as highs of 15 to 19 degrees are forecast. A largely dry day is on the cards for the Thursday, broken by a few light showers as highs hit between 17 to 20 degrees. Met Éireann says an 'Atlantic westerly regime looks set to dominate' for the days that follow. "The best of the drier and brighter weather will be in the east and south with cloudier conditions and a greater chance of rain or showers as well as breezier conditions in the west and north,' they said. "Temperatures look set to remain close to the seasonal norm.' Maeve McTaggart
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
‘Very difficult' travel conditions as Met Éireann warnings in place for heavy rain, flooding and thunderstorms
LATEST WARNINGS: Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warning for four counties Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warning for four counties on Monday with risk of widespread surface flooding and very difficult travelling conditions. The alert, covering counties Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into force at midnight on Monday and will last until 2pm. Impacts include 'very difficult' travelling conditions, lightning damage and 'very poor' visibility. A Status Yellow rain warning is also in place for Kildare and Monaghan from midnight on Monday until 2pm. The national forecaster said potential impacts include localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions. Some employers have told employees to work from home where possible to avoid travelling. Meanwhile, the UK Met Office issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm Sunday and 6pm on Monday. A Status Amber/Orange rain warning has also been issued for Antrim, Armagh and Down from 11pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday. There will be scattered heavy showers and longer spells of rain, especially across parts of the midlands and mid-west this evening. However, temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees are expected before another rather damp night tonight, with rain heaviest across the east of the country as temperatures hit lows of 13 to 15 degrees. The new week will start with further showers, heaviest over parts of Leinster and east Ulster with spot flooding possible before conditions brighten in parts of the west and south tomorrow evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees are expected, before another mild and rather wet day on Tuesday when temperatures hit highs of 16 to 19 degrees despite widespread showers in the afternoon. Met Éireann expects the coming days to feature 'generally mixed conditions' to start the week, forecasting 'showers or longer spells of, at times heavy, rain with spot flooding possible'. There will be fewer showers by midweek. Sunny spells and scattered showers are expected on Wednesday, with rain becoming less heavy than previous days and more isolated by evening as highs of 15 to 19 degrees are forecast. A largely dry day is on the cards for the Thursday, broken by a few light showers as highs hit between 17 to 20 degrees. Met Éireann says an 'Atlantic westerly regime looks set to dominate' for the days that follow. "The best of the drier and brighter weather will be in the east and south with cloudier conditions and a greater chance of rain or showers as well as breezier conditions in the west and north,' they said. "Temperatures look set to remain close to the seasonal norm.' Maeve McTaggart
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Met Éireann issues Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warnings with risk of flooding
Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warning for four counties Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange rain and thunderstorm warning for four counties tomorrow with risk of widespread surface flooding. The alert, covering counties Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow came into force at midnight on Monday and will last until 2pm. Impacts include 'very difficult' travelling conditions, lightning damage and 'very poor' visibility. A Status Yellow rain warning is also in place for Kildare, Wicklow and Monaghan from midnight on Monday until 2pm. The national forecaster said potential impacts include localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions. Meanwhile, the UK Met Office issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Antrim, Armagh and Down between 6pm Sunday and 6pm on Monday. A Status Amber/Orange rain warning has also been issued for Antrim, Armagh and Down from 11pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday. There will be scattered heavy showers and longer spells of rain, especially across parts of the midlands and mid-west this evening. However, temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees are expected before another rather damp night tonight, with rain heaviest across the east of the country as temperatures hit lows of 13 to 15 degrees. The new week will start with further showers, heaviest over parts of Leinster and east Ulster with spot flooding possible before conditions brighten in parts of the west and south tomorrow evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees are expected, before another mild and rather wet day on Tuesday when temperatures hit highs of 16 to 19 degrees despite widespread showers in the afternoon. Met Éireann expects the coming days to feature 'generally mixed conditions' to start the week, forecasting 'showers or longer spells of, at times heavy, rain with spot flooding possible'. There will be fewer showers by midweek. Sunny spells and scattered showers are expected on Wednesday, with rain becoming less heavy than previous days and more isolated by evening as highs of 15 to 19 degrees are forecast. A largely dry day is on the cards for the Thursday, broken by a few light showers as highs hit between 17 to 20 degrees. Met Éireann says an 'Atlantic westerly regime looks set to dominate' for the days that follow. "The best of the drier and brighter weather will be in the east and south with cloudier conditions and a greater chance of rain or showers as well as breezier conditions in the west and north,' they said. "Temperatures look set to remain close to the seasonal norm.' Maeve McTaggart
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Ireland set to sizzle as sun-lovers enjoy 30C on hottest day of year; parks to offer free sunscreen
8 minutes ago Cork to see free suncream in parks The people of Cork will be able receive free suncream at four parks across the city from Monday. Visitors to Marina Park, Fitzgerald's Park, Clashduv Park and Meelick Park - which are owned by Cork City Council - will have access to free SPF50 suncream through new dispensers. Labour Party councillors John Maher and Peter Horgan brought the idea of the scheme to Cork City Council, motivated in part by figures from the Irish Cancer Society which found the cost of suncream has prevented one in 10 people from using it. The pilot scheme will run until the end of summer in partnership with the HSE. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Maher said: "Just because we're not in mainland Spain, and you know, the sun isn't always belting down on us, the sun is still dangerous in Ireland, and the UV rays that it gives off. So, this is giving people a bit of protection in our public parks." The dispensers will contain SPF 50 and will also feature a UV dial and a mirror to help people applying their suncream. Maeve McTaggart 47 minutes ago Today 03:05 AM Hosepipe bans begin in the UK Hosepipe ban begins in Yorkshire as summer's third heatwave grips country A hosepipe ban is coming into force in Yorkshire as the third heatwave of the summer grips the country. Households in Yorkshire are the first to be hit with the ban after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England, with more high temperatures forecast over the weekend. Temperatures could reach 32C in parts of central and southern England on Friday and are expected to remain high into the weekend, with a yellow heat health alert in place for all regions in England until July 15. The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, warns of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions, because of the heat. Ellie Crabbe, PA Today 03:04 AM Today 03:03 AM Today 03:03 AM Today 02:52 AM Status Yellow high temperature warning to come into effect from midday A Status Yellow high temperature warning will come into effect for 14 counties from midday, with Met Éireann warning of temperatures higher than 27C. There will be plenty of sunshine, clear skies and dry weather throughout the coming days. Nighttime temperatures are unlikely to fall below 15C. The forecaster has warned of uncomfortable sleeping conditions and the potential risk of heat stress, water safety issues and forest fires. It will extend to the entire country from noon on Saturday and will in effect until 6am on Sunday morning. There will be a break in the "mini heatwave" next week, when more unsettled and cooler weather is expected from Monday. Scattered showers will return as Met Éireann forecasts a band of rain moving over the country throughout the morning and continuing into Tuesday. Maeve McTaggart Today 02:43 AM Do you put suncream on a cow? Farmers will also be watching out for their cattle as the mercury climbs this weekend, with Peter Hynes in Aherla, Co Cork, even using sun cream on the udders of his show cows if they need it. 'I think the most important thing at the moment is to ensure they have a good water supply and are in a shaded paddock,' said Mr Hynes. The show cows are more at risk of sunburn as their fur is clipped. He keeps them indoors during hot spells, but would use sun cream on their udders if they needed to be out in the sun for extended periods of time. 'Over the weekend, we have to be mindful of how sun affects us – it is the same for animals and you don't want them distressed,' he said. His cattle currently need around four kilos of dairy nuts a day due to a lack of grass on the farm, in comparison to the usual two or three kilos he would be feeding his herd this time of year. However, there has also been a silver lining to the current conditions, with the farmer's maize reaching new heights. 'Generally, maize in Ireland should be around knee-high by July 4 but our maize crop was actually over seven feet by July 4 and putting up cobs. 'It's extremely unusual for this country to see maize at that height and putting up cobs that early, but it is down to the weather.' Gash Gardens in Portlaoise, which Ross Doyle runs with his wife Mary, has seen a surge in visitors in the last few days, with 'all hands on deck' this week to keep four acres of grounds watered during the warm weather. 'When we saw the heatwave coming, even though it's fantastic to see the hot weather, it brings a lot of extra work,' said Mr Doyle. Today 02:42 AM Today 02:41 AM Cooling off in Dublin as Temperatures are set to soar close to 30C over weekend as the public are urged to conserve water. Photo: Mark Condren Today 02:40 AM Zoos and wildlife parks stock the freezers The freezers in Fota Wildlife Park in Cork are also fully stocked with ice blocks. Some are filled with fruit and leaves, others with meat and even blood. Senior ranger Cathriona Ni Scanaill said animal welfare is a priority through all seasons, with the Fota team thinking 'outside the box' to keep every animal from the meerkats to the big cats cool and entertained. There are shady areas and access to water in every habitat, which are adapted to the needs of each animal. Rhinos use mud wallows to cool down, as they would in the wild, and the ostriches give themselves dust baths, while semi-aquatic animals like capybaras and tapirs have access to ponds. 'With the rhinos, sometimes we give them a hose shower, which they really enjoy. For a lot of the primates and even the big cats, we prep ice blocks – sometimes with fruit in them so they have to work to get the fruit out,' said Ms Ni Scanaill. 'We pop in little treats, maybe grapes. For the big cats like the tigers, lions, we put in chunks of meat, or we could use blood [in the blocks] as well to help cool them down. For the giraffes, we might pop an ice box up with leaves in it.' The freezers are prepped with ice blocks and frozen peas, which are scatter-fed to the primates in their care. Ms Ni Scanaill said the rangers are well prepared and all the animals seem to be enjoying the sunny spells, though she urged all visitors to bring their sun cream if they are planning a trip. 'All the animals seem happy and contended with us. It's really nice here, the sky is absolutely blue and the trees are green, but you also get the lovely breeze coming in from Cork Harbour so that really helps to cool the place down.' Today 02:39 AM Surge in sales of hot tubs, barbecues and garden furniture Hardware suppliers have reported a surge in sales of hot tubs, barbecues and garden furniture in anticipation of the hot weather. Supermarkets including SuperValu, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Marks & Spencer said they had already sold out of hot-dog rolls, burger buns and charcoal in anticipation of a weekend of outdoor eating. SuperValu expects iced coffee sales to increase by 200pc, while sun cream sales are up 400pc and sales of bags of ice have doubled in their stores. Woodies, B&Q, 4Home and Home Value reported a surge in sales of barbecues, garden chairs and parasols as families unable to head to the beach prepared to make the most of the fine weather in their back gardens. Oisín Kelly at Woodies in Airside Retail Park, Swords, said parasols, gazebos and patio furniture have been a major hit in store, while 'plants and compost have been really popular'. Caroline Whelan, who runs A Room Outside in Co Limerick, said: 'We have also had a big run on hot tubs at the moment. They have been popular all through this season so far, but they are selling quite well at the moment.' Ralph Riegel Today 02:37 AM Ireland set to sizzle as sun-lovers enjoy 30C on hottest day of year Mini-heatwave on way as some parts of the country won't dip below 18C overnight Ireland will experience the hottest day of the year this weekend – as high as 30C. The mini-heatwave will also make it hard to sleep, with some parts of the country having overnight temperatures stuck around 18C. Met Éireann has forecast 29C for tomorrow, and huge crowds are expected to head to coastal areas to make the most of the sunshine. Forecaster Aoife Kealy said Ireland's hottest temperature of the year to date – 29.5C at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon on June 20 – could be topped over the next 48 hours, with some sheltered inland areas possibly hitting 30C or slightly higher. The mini-heatwave will not set a new July record – the hottest July day ever recorded was in Dublin's Phoenix Park on July 18, 2022, when the temperature reached 33C. Over a million people will head to coastal and lake resorts, and gardaí and local authorities warned people to allow time for their journeys and to expect possible congestion. Parking is expected to be at a premium at popular locations throughout the weekend. Lifeguards said they were gearing up for one of their busiest weekends of the year. Aaron Duffy, who works alongside his sister, Alicia, on Claremont Beach in Howth, Co Dublin, issued a warning to sun lovers. 'Always ensure that you swim between our flags, our red and yellow flags. That's our patrol zone, and that's where we'll be able to keep an eye on you,' he told the Irish Independent. 'Swimming in a big group is always good because you'll have a lot of people to look out for you. And if, God forbid, you get into trouble in the sea, what I would advise would be to remain calm. Try to keep your head above water with basic strokes.' Water Safety Ireland also urged those heading for the beach to 'make safety a top priority' this weekend.
Sunday World
07-05-2025
- Sunday World
Operation Sindoor: India strikes Pakistan with missiles in ‘act of war' – 26 people reportedly dead
Irish citizens should avoid travelling to the border areas of India and Pakistan - DFA Irish citizens have been advised to avoid travelling to the border areas of India and Pakistan and to exercise caution in the region, with the Department of Foreign Affairs describing the security situation in Pakistan as "tense and unpredictable". The current security status for both Pakistan and India urges Irish citizens to exercise a "high degree of caution". Irish citizens in India have been advised to "exercise caution in public places, stay alert, monitor local news reports and to follow the advice of local authorities" following military activity by India and Pakistan on May 6 and 7. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said there may be flight delays and disruptions as it continues to advise against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, or Manipur. "India's military has stated that it has attacked several targets in the Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir regions of Pakistan on the night of May 7, with reports of a Pakistani military response into Indian territory," the advice for Irish citizens in Pakistan reads. "A state of emergency has subsequently been declared in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The security situation is tense and unpredictable. "On the 7 May Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority indicated that it was closing Pakistan airspace for at least 48 hours. There are reports of flights being diverted. "Travellers should contact their airline for up-to-date information." Irish citizens have been urged to stay up to date "via the media, local authorities, your hotel, travel agency or airline" and to follow the instructions of the local authorities. The Department of Foreign Affairs website advises against all travel to a number of areas, including the Kashmir region, the border area between India and Pakistan, the city of Peshawar and have advised against any travel on the Karakoram Highway between Islamabad and Gilgit. Maeve McTaggart
