Weather warning: Kilkenny braces for onslaught of Hurricane Ophelia

A 'Status Orange' weather warning remains in Kilkenny this evening, but this may yet be upgraded to 'Status Red' as Hurricane Ophelia moves closer to Irish shores tonight.

Hurricane Ophelia Red & Orange weather warnings

Earlier today, neighbouring counties Waterford and Wexford were both upgraded to a Status Red, and Waterford IT has said it will be closed tomorrow due to the risks associated with the weather alert 'and the potential risks to staff and students'. It will re-open on Tuesday.

The Department of Education has advised that schools in Status Red areas remain closed. While Kilkenny remains Orange, Met Éireann has said it's possible that the red wind warning could be extended to the rest of the country tonight. A number of schools in south Kilkenny have already indicated they may close.

Read the Kilkenny People story by Sam Matthews - “Weather warning: Kilkenny braces for onslaught of Hurricane Ophelia.”

Typhoon Hato: Hong Kong issues highest warning, halts trading

Hong Kong upgraded the storm warning to the highest for the first time in five years and cancelled its stock exchange morning trading session as Severe Typhoon Hato drew closer to the financial centre.

A man holds onto a lamp post against strong wind
as Typhoon Hato hits Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and schools and most businesses in the Asian financial hub closed.

Streets were largely deserted on Wednesday as winds intensified and rain lashed down, with many skyscrapers in the heart of the financial centre in darkness as the city battened down for one of the worst storms in years.

Hato churned up water in the iconic Victoria Harbour and triggered large swells and massive waves on some of the city's most popular beaches, with the weather observatory warning of serious flooding in low-lying areas.

Read the Melbourne Age story - “Typhoon Hato: Hong Kong issues highest warning, halts trading.”

Sydney weather: Fire threat upgraded as NSW braces for unprecedented conditions

The NSW Rural Fire Service has upgraded the fire threat in parts of the state amid warnings of "catastrophic conditions" that are expected to take hold around midday.

As NSW faces the "worst possible fire conditions" in its history with 'extreme' and catastrophic' warnings in place across large slabs of the state, RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the situation was as "bad as it gets" and warned it was set to get worse on Sunday when winds are expected to sweep through scorched parts of mid to northern NSW. 

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Sydney weather: Fire threat upgraded as NSW braces for unprecedented conditions.”