Met Eireann’s latest forecast shows the arrival of brutal conditions across the board for Ireland with gale-force winds, heavy rain and a big temperature drop.
It's going to be a windy morning today with fresh to strong and gusty west to southwest breezes - stronger along Atlantic coasts and especially in the northwest.
Sunny spells and widespread showers are due to arrive as well, and some will be heavy at times with possible hail and isolated thunderstorms.
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There is also the chance of sleet in the north, but these showers and winds will ease through the day with good dry periods developing.
Highest afternoon temperatures will range from 5 to 9 degrees.
Tonight will become wet and windy tonight as southerly winds increase from fresh to strong and gusty overnight.
Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue to extend northeastwards across the country with heavier falls of rain developing later in parts of the west and northwest with spot flooding.
According to the Irish forecaster, tomorrow will start with a “Wet and windy tomorrow morning with fresh to strong and very gusty southwesterly winds.
“Widespread outbreaks of rain at first with heavy falls and localised flooding in places. Some drier and brighter intervals will develop for the afternoon as winds ease but there will be further showers or longer spells of rain through the day”.
Friday night will see “showery outbreaks of rain extending from the southwest during the night.
“Driest and coldest in the north and west, with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, with frost and patches of fog developing.
“Milder elsewhere with lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in mostly light to moderate southerly breezes.”
On Saturday, New Year's Eve, “further showery outbreaks of rain expected, most widespread at first but good dry periods will develop through the day, especially from mid-afternoon”.
Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees are expected, but will be cooler in parts of the north, in light to moderate westerly breezes.
Saturday night will be “a very cold night, especially over the northern half of the country, with lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees with frost and icy stretches developing widely. Largely dry for much of the night though there will be a few showers with falls of sleet possible.
“Light variable breezes will also allow patches of fog to develop. More persistent rain will develop in the southwest towards morning”.
Heading into Sunday (New Year's Day), “there is a good deal uncertainty in the forecast for New Year's Day but indications are that rain in the southwest will gradually extend across the country, falling as sleet in places with snow on high ground,” according to the Irish forecasters.
“Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees generally, milder along southern coasts. Gradually becoming drier overnight but remaining cold with lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees”.
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