Wind and rain warning with risk of 'damaging gusts'

Weather update from Met Éireann

Homeowners and motorists are being cautioned that "some severe and damaging gusts may occur" as a 'Status Yellow' wind and rain warning is in place across the country.

The national weather forecaster is warning of very windy conditions today with widespread gales: southerly veering westerly.

Met Éireann says a spell of heavy rain will occur, leading to flooding in places. There is also potential for localised wave overtopping along Atlantic coasts.

The warning came into effect at 4am this morning and will remain in place until 9pm this evening.

Very windy or locally stormy today. During the morning, a band of heavy squally rain will sweep eastwards across the country bringing spot flooding and local thunderstorms. Southerly winds, later veering west to southwest, will be very strong and gusty with possible severe and damaging gusts, especially near south and west coasts. Rain will clear eastern counties in the early afternoon with sunny spells and thundery showers of rain or hail following. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees.

Windy for a time yet early tonight with some further severe gusts, especially in the northwest. Clear spells and scattered heavy showers will set in. Most of the showers will affect Atlantic counties with more general rain moving into the west and southwest later. Turning rather cold with lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees. Strong and gusty southwest winds will moderate overnight. However, towards morning winds will pick up along southwest areas.

Scattered outbreaks of thundery rain will move in across the country on Thursday with local hail and lightning â€" driest for Ulster and the north midlands. Cool with highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty cyclonic variable winds.

Thursday night is expected mostly dry and clear, apart from a few coastal showers in the west and northwest. Chilly with lows of 3 to 6 degrees in mostly light westerly breezes.

Friday should be the driest day countrywide this week with just isolated showers and good sunshine, turning hazy from the west later. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees with just westerly breezes later backing southerly. A band of heavy and possibly thundery rain together with freshening southwesterly winds will sweep in from the Atlantic after dark with spot flooding. Mild with lows of 8 to 11 degrees.

Any lingering overnight rain will quickly clear on Saturday with sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly affecting the western half of Ireland. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds. Some heavier showers will push into Atlantic counties overnight, while staying mostly clear elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in rather brisk southwest winds.

Sunday will see brisk southwest winds will feed in scattered heavy showers, turning thundery across Atlantic counties. Sunny spells too, with the best of these across the east. Highest temperatures once again ranging 12 to 15 degrees.

A milder day is forecast for Monday but with blustery outbreaks of rain, later giving way to drier and brighter conditions.