A rare red weather warning has been issued for parts of Ireland as gusts of over 80mph are expected to hit the country this evening.
The caution - the strongest that can be issued by weather forecasters - warns of high speed winds, high seas and possible coastal flooding set to hit Kerry as Storm Atiyah sweeps through.
The Irish forecaster has warned of severe weather with gusts over 80mph expected to hit Kerry.
Due to a combination of high seas and storm surge there is a possibility of coastal flooding, with waves of up to 42ft forecast in coastal areas.
The red warning is in place for the county from 4pm to 7pm today, reports the Irish Mirror .
The Met Office this morning also extended its ' danger to life' warning across the UK, expanding it to a wider area south of England and Wales and warning it will hit its worst peaks overnight as high winds usher in the arrival of the ferocious storm.
The yellow severe wind warning is now in force overnight, from 6pm today until 9am tomorrow as the national forecaster warns Brits to expect disruption to travel and huge waves for coastal communities.
The wild weather lashing Ireland has caused many national parks to close, as well as the cancellation of today's showing of the popular Wild Lights spectacular at Dublin Zoo as bosses feared for the safety of animals and visitors in the high winds.
The full Met Eireann message reads: "West to southwest winds veering northwest will reach mean speeds in excess of 80km/h (49mph) with gusts in excess of 130km/h for a time this evening.
"Extreme caution is advised, especially near the coast and on high ground.
"Due to a combination of high seas and storm surge there is a possibility of coastal flooding."
Several other warnings remain in place, including an orange warning for nine counties.
Storm Atiyah is expected to move from Ireland's west to east from 3pm on Sunday through to 9am on Monday.
A status orange wind warning comes into effect from 1pm for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Limerick.
Met Eireann said a status yellow wind warning will come into effect from 1pm until 6am tomorrow for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford, with gusts between 90 and 110km/h likely (55-68mph).
Met Eireann forecasters also warned a combination of high seas and storm surge would bring the “possibility of coastal flooding”.
A Status Yellow wind warning for the whole of Ireland is in place until 1pm today, with the counties above then affected by the more severe orange warning.
The whole of Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford will then be under a yellow wind warning from 1pm until 6am Monday.
A yellow rainfall warning for Donegal, which says the county will see 30mm to 40mm of rain over 24 hours, is in place until 6pm today.
Meanwhile, two new marine warnings were also put up this morning.
A Status Orange gale warning says gale force eight westerly winds will increase to “strong gale force nine” on Sunday morning in coastal waters from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head.
The Met Eireann caution adds: “Westerly winds will further increase to Storm Force 10, possibly Violent Storm Force 11 in places, later on Sunday afternoon on coastal waters from Roches Point to Loop Head to Slyne Head.
“Gale Force 8 to Strong Gale Force 9 westerly winds will gradually veer northwesterly on all Irish coastal waters on Sunday Evening and will reach Storm Force 10 for a time on coastal waters from Slyne Head to Erris Head to Malin Head.
“Northwest winds will continue Gale Force 8 to Strong Gale Force 9 on Monday morning on Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Howth Head to Mizen Head and for the Irish Sea.”
The sixth message regards a Status Yellow small craft warning.
It reads: “Northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher on Monday morning on Irish coasts from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Malin Head.”
Kerry County Council urged on Twitter for residents to prepare: "We are asking members of the public to take necessary precautions for high winds including, securing items or property which are susceptible to high winds such as hoarding, signage, Christmas lights/decorations, garden furniture, bins, trampolines."
ESB networks warned that the storm may result in some customers losing supply.
At its worst Storm Atiyah will whip up monster swells over 42ft tall, a forecast has shown.
An updated forecast from Magic Seaweed now shows waves reaching the peaks on Sunday afternoon and evening just off the coast of Kerry.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Department of Culture said Due to the wind and rain warnings issued for Kerry the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had closed several national parks.
"The NPWS advises the public not to visit any National Parks, National Monuments or Nature Reserves whilst the warnings are in place."
The following National Parks and Nature Reserves in Ireland will be closed until further notice:
- Connemara National Park
- Knockma Wood, near Tuam, Co Galway
- Derryclare Nature Reserve, Co Galway
- Wild Nephin, Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo
- Old Head Nature Reserve, Co Mayo
- Laughil Wood, near Pontoon, Co Mayo
- Dromore Woods Nature Reserve, Co Clare
- Killarney National Park, House and Gardens; Muckross House and Gardens, Co Kerry
