Met Eireann has issued a new weather warning ahead of stormy conditions this weekend.
“Very unsettled” weather has been forecast thanks to the powerful effects of the jet stream, which is set to lash the country with torrential rain and strong gusts within hours.
It threatens a ‘conveyor belt’ of low pressure systems sweeping from the Atlantic, which are set to dominate Ireland’s weather into next week.
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The national forecaster said: “It will be very unsettled with wet and windy weather as low pressure dominates over the weekend and into next week.”
Its latest weather warning affects western counties Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
The Status Yellow Wind alert is in place from 10am Saturday until 8am Sunday and reads: “Southerly winds, veering southwesterly, will be very strong and gusty, especially near coasts with localised wave overtopping possible.”
Issuing its nationwide forecast for this weekend, Met Eireann said to expect strong winds, heavy rain, hail and thunder at times.
For tonight it said: “Rain spreading eastwards across the country and becoming widespread for a time. Turning cooler overnight with lowest temperatures of 3C to 7C. Southerly winds will ease mainly light for a time before freshening towards morning. The rain will clear before dawn followed by isolated showers for Atlantic coastal counties.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, the national forecaster continued: “Turning very blustery on Saturday as south to southwest winds increase strong and gusty. Scattered showers will feed in from the west through the day, some of which may turn heavy. Isolated hail showers are also possible. Occasional bright spells will develop as well. Highest temperatures of 7C to 11C.
“A blustery and cloudy night on Saturday as strong southerly winds persist through to the early hours. Widespread showers, heaviest and most persistent along Atlantic coastal counties with hail possible too. The best of any dry spells will be in the east with overnight lows of 4C to 7C, coolest in the northwest
“The strong and blustery winds will persist on Sunday morning with fresh to strong westerlies feeding in widespread showers along Atlantic coastal counties, some spreading further east. The showers will be heavy at times in the west, with hail or thunder possible at times. Further east should see a mix of scattered showers and some sunny spells. Staying relatively cool with highs of just 6C to 9C.
“Similar conditions continue through to Sunday night with widespread blustery showers of rain or hail for western counties. The showers will gradually become more isolated further to the east of the country in the evening and overnight. Staying cloudy throughout with overnight lows of 1C to 4C.”
The wet and windy weather is expected to continue into next week, with the potential for a storm to track over Ireland.
Irish independent forecaster Alan O’Reilly has been updating followers on his popular Carlow Weather social media accounts.
He shared some long-range weather models, which are subject to change this far out, explaining: “Plenty of wind over the next 7 days, windy weekend and potential for a storm to track over us around middle of next week.”
Giving its early forecast for next week, Met Eireann said: “Rather cloudy Monday with a band of scattered showers mainly affecting western areas. It will stay dry further east generally with moderate to fresh westerly breezes. Highest temperatures of 5C to 8C.
“Westerly breezes will gradually die out on Monday night as the showers along western coasts become more isolated and confined to Ulster. A little more cloud cover over southern areas overnight so not falling too low with 3 to 6 degrees but colder further north with lows of 1C to 4C.
“It looks set to be a wet and windy day on Tuesday as a frontal system moves over the country bringing band of rain, possibly heavy at times for southern areas and blustery winds too. Mild during the afternoon with highest temperatures of 9C to 12C as brisk southerly winds turn westerly.
“Remaining unsettled with blustery winds and scattered showers.”
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