THE earlier Status Yellow wind warning for Kerry has now been changed to the more severe ‘Orange’ status by Met Eireann.

Issued at noon today, the new warning applies to Kerry, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, and Cork.

Southerly winds of mean speeds of 60 to 65km/h gusting 100 to 110km/h will develop this afternoon.

Stronger winds of mean speeds of 70 to 80km/h with gusts up to 120km/h at times, are likely between 4pm and 10pm.

The warning is valid until 1am on Thursday by which time the winds will ease.

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, will be a cold day with bright or sunny spells at times but scattered showers too, some of these heavy and some turning wintry on high ground.

Temperatures will only reach 4 or 5 degrees at best in the afternoon and it will be breezy, so feeling colder still.