Severe storms to dominate weekend weather and beyond

We are entering a period of unstable weather that could see gusts reach in excess of 100kph at the weekend.

Conditions are to remain dry and bright until Friday when the weather is expected to take a sudden turn for the worse.

Conditions will deteriorate on Saturday as a low pressure system tracks close to Ireland.

Cathal Nolan of Ireland's Weather Channel says it is to become very windy on Saturday, and again on Sunday, with currently models suggesting winds of up to 100 - 110kph in the Midlands.

Further west, and winds could hit speeds of up to 120 - 130kph.

"Compounding this situation is the fact that strong winds will coincide with "king tides", a term used to describe particularly high spring tides, thus bringing a greater risk of coastal flooding to the west," he says.

"There is a low pressure system tracking close to Ireland, and although it could remain 500 - 700kms away, its wind bands are quite large, making a bigger impact on our weather.

"It will particularly impact the UK, as the strongest winds will be felt across western Scotland."

Beyond the weekend however, Cathal is warning of a second, and possibly even more "disruptive" system due to arrive on Tuesday next.

"Both weather models have been throwing up this storm for the past couple of days now and its showing a very disruptive storm making its way to Ireland, bringing gusts of up to 160kph.

"As it's a week away yet, it's hard to know if it will materialise, or to judge just how severe this storm will be. But if models persist as they are, this storm is likely to be quite intense."

In between, on Monday, there is a chance of snow as a cold air mass makes its way down across the country from the north and north west.

It is likely to bring a blanket of snow to Connacht and north west Ulster, and could also bring a dusting to Midlands as winds increase on Monday into Tuesday.