Heavy rain and blustery showers on the way as five counties hit with weather warnings
The warnings will come into place from 1pm on Tuesday
Ireland is set to be battered by heavy rains and blustery winds over the coming day as five counties have been hit with weather warnings.
A Status Yellow Wind Warning is in place for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford from 1pm on Tuesday afternoon until 9pm on Tuesday evening. A Status Yellow Rain warning is also in place for Cork and Kerry.
Very strong and gusty southeasterly winds are expected with potential impacts including difficult travelling conditions, some fallen trees and branches, loose debris objects displaced and wave overtopping due to a combination of Spring tides, surge and very strong onshore winds.
Carlow Weatherman Alan O’Reilly has said a low pressure system building in the Atlantic will bring strong winds on Tuesday into Wednesday along with scattered thundery showers, but “thankfully the worst of it, as it peaks, is out in the Atlantic, and then it heads up towards Iceland”.
He added that some weather models show the storm getting closer to the south west coast on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has given its five-day-forecast predicting a mixed bag later in the week.
Today
Today will be dry and bright for most with spells of sunshine, turning hazy at times, and just isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees with a light to moderate south to southeast breeze.
Tonight will be dry for most tonight with clear spells. It will turn cloudier over the southern half of the country overnight with patchy rain and drizzle developing towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees, with a light to moderate southeasterly breeze, freshening towards morning.
Tuesday
Tuesday will become very windy with southeasterly winds increasing fresh through the morning, and reaching strong to near gale force and gusty through the afternoon and evening. Mainly dry in the morning, but some rain or drizzle in Munster.
Through the afternoon and evening, persistent or heavy rain will spread northeastwards with localised flooding possible. Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees.
Rain will clear northeastwards overnight to scattered showers and clear spells from the southwest early on. The showers will be heavy, blustery and possibly thundery at times, especially in the south and west.
Strong to near gale southeasterly winds will veer southerly with the clearance of the rain and ease moderate to fresh, stronger near coasts. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees.
Wednesday
Blustery with sunny spells and widespread showers, some heavy and thundery. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in fresh southerly winds, stronger near western coasts.
Winds easing and turning drier overnight for most as showers become confined to the west with plenty of clear spells. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in mostly light southerly breezes.
Thursday
Dry for many with sunny spells and scattered showers. A spell of more persistent rain is likely to move into the west later in the day. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest winds, backing southerly later.
Friday
There is some uncertainty in the details, with outbreaks of rain currently likely to move in from the west. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds.
Further outlook
There is a signal for a ridge of high pressure to build through the weekend with drier and more settled weather developing.