Storm Agnes: Three counties placed under orange alert

Muireann Duffy

Updated: 5.45pm

A weather alert for three counties has been upgraded ahead of Storm Agnes making landfall on Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning, Met Éireann issued an orange rain alert for Cork and Kerry, before adding Waterford on Tuesday evening.

The alert for the three counties will be in place from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday.

It will follow the previously issued yellow wind warning for Munster and Leinster which will commence at 7am and remain in place until midnight on Thursday.

At the same time, a yellow warning for rain will also take effect for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow. Cork, Kerry and Waterford will also be covered by this alert when the orange warning ends in the afternoon.

Met Éireann said Wednesday will bring spells of heavy and occasionally intense rain for the affected counties, with very strong and gusty winds.

The conditions may lead to localised flooding in parts of the country, while poor visibility will also lead to difficult travel conditions.

The forecaster added that high winds in Leinster and Munster could cause coastal flooding, power outages and fallen trees.