Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange weather warning for six counties as Hurricane Lorenzo tracks towards Ireland.

The violent hurricane is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before it reaches our shores, but we can still expect 24 hours of torrential rain, violent winds and high seas.

Gusts of up to 130km/h are expected in Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Clare, Galway and Limerick.

Advice for motorists

Lorenzo is currently battering Portugal’s Azores, with gusts to 140 km/h recorded. Meteorologists predict the effects will begin to be felt across Ireland from midday Thursday, peaking late Thursday evening and Thursday night, easing Friday morning.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group has advised the public to stay away from coastal areas during this period.

“Very strong winds are predicted which will make driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclist and high sided vehicles. Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris as trees are in full leaf.” read a statement.

Storm prep underway across the country 

With a Status Yellow wind warning in place from Thursday morning until Friday morning at 6am, winds will reach mean speeds of up to 80km/h resulting in “some disruptive impacts”.

Local Authorities across the country have activated their Crisis Management Teams in preparation for the arrival of Storm Lorenzo, with Department of Transport and Sport Crisis Weather crews also on standby to deal with any potential issues.

An RSA media campaign for driving in difficult conditions has commenced and ESB Networks are ready to mobilise responses to restore power once the impact of the storm is known.

The Powercheck app will enable users to gather updates on estimated restoration times.