ELEANOR: Severe winds across Meath as Orange Alert remains in force

The first storm of 2018 has left a trail of destruction across Ireland's Atlantic coast and is now moving across Meath and the North East.

Met Eireann says strong to gale force and squally south to southwest winds over Munster and Leinster veering westerly this evening with some very severe and damaging gusts and also very high seas on Atlantic coasts.

As the storm tracks into the North Irish Sea later this evening and early tonight the winds will become strongest along the east coast, but then westerly winds increase later again along Atlantic coastal counties, where seas will continue very high. A spell of heavy and locally thundery rain over the north will clear to heavy squally showers with the risk of hail or thundery downpours leading to flooding locally. Also some damage and coastal flooding possible. Lowest temperatures 3 to 7 degrees.

Weather Update: There is a tree on the road between Sheridan’s shop and seneschalstown railway bridge/ the Dollardstown-Hayestown area
(Thanks to Emily Kelly-Leahy)