By theguardian
Storm Fergus brings wind warnings and flattens trees in Leitrim.
A possible tornado has caused serious damage to homes and vehicles in an Irish village.
On Sunday afternoon, emergency services were dispatched to Leitrim Village after strong winds blew down trees and ripped the roof of a house off. Debris was also scattered in a nearby street.
Met Eireann’s Liz Walsh stated that reports of tornadoes in the region were “possibly true” or “certainly very high wind associated with thunderstorm”. The forecaster relied on reports from social media and videos in order to determine if the storm was actually a tornado.
She said: “The wind direction and speed can change in a thunderstorm cloud as the storm moves up, causing rotation. If the funnel cloud extends all the way to the ground, that is what causes a tornado.
It could have also been a straight-line gust. Most likely, one of the two, but some people claim to have seen rotation. It’s not something that can be predicted, they would only last a few minutes.
Witnesses to the tornado reported that their Jeep was hit with debris while driving through the storm.
Paddy Farrell, a councillor from Leitrim Village, said that he almost got caught up in a “tornado”, while driving through the village. I was driving myself through the village. He said that if I had been a second faster, I would have felt the full brunt.
I was driving my jeep. With all the flying debris, it sounded like a group was throwing stones at my Jeep while I drove through. “It just happened out of the blue.”
Farrell who lives in the village added, “There were several damaged buildings and a roof was taken off.” There was even damage to fairly new apartment buildings. I believe the window of one of these blew into it.
The emergency services had been called, and the businesses in close proximity to the accident scene were closed.
He said that “no one was seriously injured but there was two minor injuries.” “It was terrifying – it kept me going home quickly.”
This comes following a yellow thunder and lightning warning issued from noon to 6pm for Galway and Mayo.
Met Eireann said that high winds, coastal flooding and possible storm surges are all expected to occur on the West Coast of Ireland as Storm Fergus moves across the island later Sunday.
Clare, Galway, and Mayo counties have orange wind warnings, which indicate very strong winds onshore, along with large waves and high tides.
The second storm named Fergus of the weekend has brought wind warnings in the counties Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. Also, yellow alerts have been issued for Cavan, Dublin. Kildare. Laois. Longford. Louth. Meath. Offaly. Westmeath. Wicklow. Leitrim. Roscommon.
These counties may experience difficult travel conditions due to debris or loose objects.
Met Eireann’s Michelle Dillon stated: “Intense to gale-force south-west wind veering westward will develop through Sunday evening, early Sunday morning and Sunday night while Storm Fergus moves eastwards in the country.
The stormy weather will cause high seas, and coastal flooding is possible along the West Coast.
UK Met Office also issued yellow warnings of impending weather in Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland. However, no such warnings have been sent to Northern Ireland.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page has said that Storm Fergus is the end to what he called a “unsettling weekend” of weather in Britain.
He said that Fergus would bring heavy rain and strong winds for some time on Sunday night and early Monday morning. While the most intense gusts of wind are predicted in Ireland, Stormfergus is expected to bring some very windy conditions, as well as some heavy rain, to the western parts of the country, such the Irish Sea Coasts.
Residential roofing services are vital for your home’s integrity and longevity. Roofs are subject to wear and tear from the weather, which can lead to structural problems or leaks. Professional roofing services offer comprehensive solutions including inspections and repairs. If you want to learn more or keep an eye on the latest news, you can enter here and see the multiple options The Roof Technician residential roofing services in Toronto. Professional roofers will ensure that the right materials are selected, repairs can be made quickly, and your roofing is secure. Using expert roofing services will protect your home from the weather, improve its curb appeal and increase your roof’s lifespan.
