National warning in effect as storm Barbara hits Ireland

Met Éireann has issued two weather warnings, one status orange indicating that a national weather warning is in effect, and a status yellow warning for gale force winds.

South-southwest winds reaching 80-120kms will persist throughout most of the day, accompanied by driving rain, reaching 15mm in parts.

Highest temperatures will reach 10 degrees Celsius today, before dropping to 3-5 degrees by evening.

Tonight will remain blustery and cold with passing showers, some wintry on higher ground.

It will stay windy tomorrow, Christmas Eve, and will start out cold at first. A band of rain will move across the country, becoming milder, and winds will drop back to 50-80kms/hr.

Christmas Day will bring another storm, with winds reaching 60-100km/hr, and there's a risk of even higher gusts. 

It will be mild but turning colder in the evening as a cold front approaches. There will be patchy rain as the force of the storm becomes stronger in the north of Ireland.

St Stephen's Day, again, will be windy and cold at first, but will turn into a cool and bright morning.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be settled, with frosty mornings and sunshine, with lows of -3 degrees Celsius.