Warnings issued as Hurricane Katia batters Ireland en route to Scotland

Coastal areas worst affected as motorists warned not to travel

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Waves begin to rise in Salthill, Galway as Hurricane Katia approaches Ireland

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Hurricane Katia is battering Ireland and causing havoc across the country as police warn motorists not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.

The Hurricane is now rampaging across Ireland en route to Scotland with storm force winds and giant waves leading to transport chaos.

Ferry services have been cancelled between Ireland and Wales, Scotland and France due to the effects of Hurricane Katia.

Motorists have also been warned to beware of falling trees, damaged buildings and flooding.

The government’s weather forecasters Met Eireann has issued an extreme weather warning amid predictions of storm gusts of up to 130kmph battering the west and north west coast.

Peak winds of 115kmph are sweeping across the rest of the country thanks to the tail end of Hurricane Katia which was classified a category four hurricane when it hit the US coastline earlier this month.

The Hurricane is currently continuing its path up from the Caribbean and across Ireland before moving up to the northern tip of Scotland.

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The Irish Coast Guard has warned people to avoid boating, swimming at sea, wave-watching or rock-climbing near the coast or in exposed areas amid fears of fatalities.

The Cliffs of Moher have been closed to all visitors with wind speeds of 111kmph already recorded in County Mayo.

Police in Galway have described driving conditions in the Salthill area of the city as ‘treacherous’ while in Limerick motorists have been warned of ‘very dangerous’ winds.

Organizers were forced to cancel an open air theatre spectacle in Dublin as part of the Absolute Fringe theatre and comedy festival.

The show at Collins Barracks had been cancelled due to extreme wind conditions for health and safety reasons’.

A spokesman said: “Three thousand people were coming to it. It was a difficult decision and a lot of people were disappointed. We hope to stage it towards the end of the festival.”

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