8AM LATEST: Donegal is being battered by ex-Hurricane Katia this morning – with the worst of it due to hit between noon and 6pm today.
Heavy rain overnight is being followed by wind gusts of between 70mph and 90mph, the BBC reported.
The Mulroy Bridge is closed and there are reports of trees being down in severa areas including a tree which fell and blocked the road outside Glenties.
There are no reports of any school closures at this stage.
At one stage a large trampoline was blocking the road from Dunfanaghy to Falcarragh.
But what people are witnessing now since around 5am is just the beginning. The worst is yet to come.
Peter O’Donnell, the senior forecaster with irishweatheronline, also reported: “The strongest winds for Dublin are likely to be mid-day Monday when the westerly flow is mixing under daytime heating. Places like Cork and Waterford could see their stronger winds around 0900-1200h when the weak cold front comes through.
“Donegal and north Ulster further east, the strongest winds are likely noon to 6 p.m. when the gradient increases there.”
Met Éireann predicted southwest winds would gust up 80mph in Donegal, while the Coast Guard said people should take particular care in coastal and exposed areas.
Southwesterly winds were expected to increase overnight, reaching strong gale force to storm force on the Donegal coast.
It will be mild and top temperatures will range between 15 and 18 degrees. AA Roadwatch advised motorists to take care on exposed roads, especially in Donegal, and in high-sided vehicles.