- Written by Barra Best
- BBC News NI Weathercaster
image source, Getty Images
Potential severe weather disruption is expected across Northern Ireland as Storm Gerrit moves in on Wednesday morning.
A weather warning for strong winds and heavy rain is in effect from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Japan time.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that overnight rainfall would total 15 to 25 millimeters.
However, rainfall could reach 30-40mm in certain areas, particularly in eastern Counties Antrim and Down.
In particular, the Mournes and Antrim Hills may experience significantly higher accumulations, with estimates reaching up to 60 mm.
Strong gusts are expected in many areas.
Inland areas are expected to experience wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph.
However, wind speeds can be stronger in higher elevation areas, such as hills and coastal areas, reaching up to 50 to 60 miles per hour.
Wind speeds can reach 65 to 70 miles per hour on the most exposed parts of the Antrim coast.
Possibility of flooding
Weather warnings for both wind and rain have also been issued across the Republic of Ireland by the Irish Met Office, Met Éireann.
An orange weather warning is in place for Kerry and west Cork from 8pm local time on Thursday until midnight.
Doctors Eireann said localized flooding was possible after heavy rain followed by heavy rain across the county on Wednesday.
The rest of the Republic is under a yellow weather warning for the same period.
This is the first time this season that Arashi is given the letter “G”.
The previous earliest was Storm Georgina on 23 January 2018 and the latest was Storm Gareth on 11 March 2019.
This is also the fourth time since naming began in 2015 that a storm’s name has reached the letter G.