Westmeath council crews on standby as Storm Brendan strikes

Westmeath County Council said it will be monitoring the impact of Storm Brendan today, with crews on standby "to respond to incidents as and when the need arises". 

The second most severe weather warning - 'status orange' - came into effect in Leinster at 8am and will remain in place until 3pm. 

The warning is for extremely strong winds, with southerly winds reaching mean speeds of 50 to 70 km/h, along with the threat of gusts of 100 to 120 km/h. 

A Westmeath County Council statement said the conditions "may pose a threat to life and property". 

"Be aware about meteorological conditions and check if you are exposed to danger by nature of your activity or your specific location. Cancel or postpone activities or events as appropriate. Do not take any avoidable risks," said the local authority. 

"Based on current Met Eireann forecasts, the storm, particularly in terms of wind but also rain, will pass across County Westmeath between 11am and 2pm today.

"Westmeath County Council continues to monitor the situation and preparations are in place to address localised issues. Council crews will be on standby to respond to incidents as and when the need arises."

A Westmeath County Council emergency number is available, including outside of office hours, and can be accessed through 044 933 2000.