Status Orange weather warnings are now in place for coastal counties from Munster to Ulster with the arrival of Storm Franklin today, Sunday 20 February.

The third winter storm to reach Ireland within the last five days will bring westerly to northwesterly winds reaching storm Force 10 on Irish coastal waters from Valentia to Bloody Foreland to Carlingford Lough and on the Irish Sea North of Anglesey.

On land, Storm Franklin will cause strong to gale-force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts in the west and northwest. These winds combined with very high seas will lead to wave overtopping on Atlantic coasts, which may cause coastal flooding.

Winds are expected to be particularly strong in Northern Ireland, and the UK’s Met Office has announced an Amber Warning for the region effective from midnight tonight.

Those in the affected areas from Tyrone to Derry, North and East Antrim and the Ards Peninsula should expect flying debris that “could lead to injuries or danger to life”, as well as the likelihood of “some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs, along with trees/branches being brought down”

Longer journey times and cancellations are also likely as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, the Met Office added.

The warnings come just days after Storm Eunice, preceded by Storm Dudley, caused havoc with ferry crossings and left thousands without power nationally.