Ireland is on alert for stormy weather conditions before a sudden temperature plunge.
Met Eireann has issued a number of weather warnings, including a nationwide wind alert that advises of two “possible impacts”.
The Status Yellow warning is in place from 5am Thursday until 2am Friday and reads: “Westerly winds will be very strong and gusty from Thursday morning in the west at first, progressing eastwards from the afternoon, with particularly strong wind gusts especially around coasts and high ground in the northwest.”
The national forecaster added two possible impacts from the windy weather - power outages and travel disruption.
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A second Status Yellow weather warning for wind affects all of Munster - Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.
It kicks this evening at 6pm and lasts until midnight. The alert reads: “Becoming very windy on Wednesday evening and night with heavy rain. Possible spot flooding. Strong westerly winds with gusts of 90 to 110 km/h.”
The unsettled weather is expected to continue for the rest of the week before a cold blast engulfs the country.
Met Eireann has refused to rule out “wintry showers” falling on Sunday and early next week.
Daytime temperatures of just 3C to 6C are forecast for Saturday, while the forecast for Sunday reads: “Windy and cold with a wind chill factor. Spells of rain will be followed later by wintry showers.”
In the meantime, Ireland will be blasted with wet and windy weather.
The nationwide forecast for tonight reads: “Widespread outbreaks of rain will move in from the west with low cloud and mist patches. Southwesterly winds will be strong to very strong at times across the southern half of the country, but much lighter elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 2C to 6C will occur early in the night.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Met Eireann said: “Dull and damp at first on Thursday, with locally wet conditions. While sunny spells will develop, some passing blustery showers will track west to east too, some turning to hail across Atlantic counties later, and becoming very windy as strong to very strong westerly winds develop. Highest temperatures of 9C to 12C.
“A mix of clear spells and scattered showers on Thursday night, turning prolonged across the north and northwest with the potential for hail and isolated thunderstorms. Lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C with fresh to strong southwesterly winds.”
For the weekend, the meteorological service said: “Daytime blustery showers on Friday will mainly affect the north and northwest with sunny spells across many other areas. Remaining windy with fresh and gusty westerly winds. Feeling cold with highest temperatures of 6C to 9C.
“Turning cloudy and wet overnight on Friday as a band of rain pushes in from the southwest and spreads to all areas. Scattered showers following the clearance towards morning. Becoming windy as fresh to strong southwesterly winds develop. Lowest temperatures of 2C to 5C.
“Remaining windy Saturday with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds. Scattered showers and sunny spells, though feeling cold with highest temperatures of 3C to 6C.
“For Sunday onwards, windy and cold with a wind chill factor. Spells of rain will be followed later by wintry showers.”
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