Gusts of up to 130km/h (80mph) are forecast for some coastal areas on Sunday
By Barra Best
BBC News NI weather presenter
Weather warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland on Sunday and Monday, with stormy conditions marking the end of the recent cold snap.
Rain and high winds are forecast as Storm Isha comes in from the Atlantic.
A yellow wind warning applies from noon on Sunday until noon on Monday, upgrading to amber on Sunday evening.
Damage and disruption are expected in some areas, with gusts reaching up to 100 km/h (60 mph), up to 130km/h (80mph) along some coasts.
‘Extreme caution’
The amber wind warning – the second-highest level – will be in place from 18:00 GMT on Sunday until 09:00 on Monday as the storm intensifies across Northern Ireland.
Storm Isha due to lash the UK on Sunday
The Met Office has warned of potential power cuts, damage to buildings and travel disruption, and has emphasised the danger to life due to large coastal waves.
The Department for Infrastructure has advised people who need to travel to “exercise extreme caution”.
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Newry and Mourne District Council have announced that Castlewellan, Delamont, Kilbroney, and Slieve Gullion forest and country parks will be closed on Sunday due to high winds.
They are expected to open again from noon on Monday, subject to safety inspections.
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In the Republic of Ireland, a status orange warning has been issued for all counties from 17:00 GMT on Sunday until 05:00 on Monday.
Met Éireann, the Irish weather service, has warned of “severe and damaging gusts”, with the potential for significant coastal waves, difficult traveling conditions and the displacement of loose objects.
It has issued a status red marine warning – the highest state of alert – for coastal waters of the north and north-west of the island, from Erris Head in County May to Fair Head in County Antrim.
Storm Isha marks the ninth named storm of the season, which started on 1 September, and the first storm beginning with the letter ‘I’ since February 2016.
BBC News NI weather presenter Barra Best explains how the naming system works and what some of the chosen names are.
It follows in the wake of Storm Henk, which wreaked havoc and caused severe damage in parts of the UK in early January.
Weather warnings have also been issued for parts of Great Britain in anticipation of Storm Isha.
Abrupt change
Its impending arrival marks an abrupt change in the weather in Northern Ireland. On Thursday, the region experienced its coldest day in more than a year, with temperatures staying below -2C in some areas.
The freeze coincided with hazardous road conditions after strike action led to limited gritting.
Image source, Rachel Conn
Snowy spaniels in Ballykelly
Snow had covered some areas since Wednesday.
Translink said the weather had caused some buses to be cancelled.
On Friday the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) reminded road users to continue to exercise caution when travelling.
Image source, Janet Irons
Igloo weather in Limavady on Thursday
“If your journey is necessary exercise caution particularly when travelling on untreated roads,” the DfI said.
Road gritters have taken strike action since Thursday, leading to warnings about difficult road conditions.
Friday night’s Irish Premiership match between Glenavon and Glentoran was called off because of a frozen pitch at Mourneview Park.
Saturday’s scheduled Irish Premiership game between Loughgall and Newry City was also postponed.
Ballougry Road, Londonderry
