A map produced by Met Éireann to illustrate a weather warning as Storm Éowyn approaches has caused confusion after showing the Republic covered in red while the north remains amber.
The map on the forecaster’s website shows areas set to be most affected by the storm with every county in the Republic lit up red. The north’s six counties, however, are merely amber with the divide between the colours occurring exactly along the border.
The coast around the entire island is also red, leaving the amber north apparently surrounded and spared from the worst effects of Storm Éowyn.
Commenters on social media marvelled that the weather “respects the territorial boundaries” and joked about “the wee Orange statelet”.
The storm is set to sweep across the island early on Friday, with gale to storm force southerly winds switching to westerly.
It will bring severe, damaging and extremely destructive gusts in excess of 130km/h, or 80mph, Met Éireann said.
However, late on Wednesday, the UK Met Office retained its amber alert for the six counties, with warnings of very strong winds as well as heavy rain and snow.
The winds will be so fierce there will be a danger to life, dangerous travelling conditions, many fallen trees, widespread power outages, structural damage, wave overtopping and coastal flooding, the service is warning.
The Met Office has warned Storm Éowyn could bring gusts in excess of 80mph on exposed on coasts in Northern Ireland, northern England, north western Wales and western Scotland.
The storm is expected to cross the entire island early on Friday morning before moving across the northwest of the UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast that night.
It will initially bring snow for some, with accompanying rain and wind. This has the potential to cause travel disruption, power cuts and damage to building and homes, the Met Office said.
