Met Éireann warns Storm Dave may bring 'severe gusts'

Met Éireann has warned of the potential for "severe gusts", with a Status Yellow warning due to come into effect for the country this afternoon as Storm Dave makes landfall.

The yellow alert is valid from 1pm until 2am tomorrow.

The forecaster warned the "most disruptive spell of windy weather" will occur during this period.

The storm, it said, will bring "very strong southerly winds, veering westerly by the evening with severe gusts and coastal gales".

It said possible impacts include fallen trees, wave overtopping, difficult traveling conditions and the displacement of objects.

The Road Safety Authority said the control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds while high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.

It also said that drivers should allow extra space between themselves and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists as they may be blown off course by strong winds.

"Expect the unexpected," the authority said in a statement.

The UK Met Office also issued a Yellow wind warning for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry, which will be in operation from 2pm until 3am tomorrow.

It said the storm will bring a spell of very strong winds into tomorrow morning, which may cause some damage and travel disruption.

Storm Dave will be the fourth named storm of the season, from a list of 21 names chosen by the Irish, UK and Dutch national weather services.