Met Éireann verdict on Storm Ciaran amid alerts for strong winds and flooding

Storm Ciaran is tracking towards the south of Ireland and will bring brutal conditions, including heavy rain and strong winds.

Met Éireann is monitoring Storm Ciaran which looks like impacting Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday. The national forecaster has already issued a number of warnings for the grim weather system.

"Storm Ciaran will to track to the south of Ireland on Wednesday night and Thursday bringing heavy rain and strong winds, especially to Leinster and Munster. Continuing unsettled for the rest of the week.

"On Wednesday night, Storm Ciaran will track eastwards close to the south coast of Ireland with a spell of heavy rain, mainly over Munster and Leinster with the likelihood of some flooding. Fresh to strong and gusty northeast winds will develop and will also be strongest in Munster and Leinster. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees, coldest in Ulster," they said.

The first warning is a Status Yellow rain warning for Kerry which predicts heavy rain with localised flooding possible. The warning is valid from 12pm Tuesday until 12pm Wednesday.

There is a separate Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork and Waterford. 

Met Éireann says: "Further rainfall associated with Storm Ciarán, combined with saturated ground conditions and high river levels, may lead to flooding."

The warning for these counties is in place from 7pm Wednesday to 7pm Thursday.

A Status Yellow wind warning will also come into effect on Wednesday in Kerry, Clare and Galway. 

It warns of "strong and very gusty westerly winds, accompanied by squally showers" with possible impacts listed as "difficult travelling conditions and wave overtopping."

This wind warning comes into force at 5am on Wednesday morning and expires at 11am that same day.

Between now and these warnings coming into effect, Ireland will continue to endure horrendous weather.

"This morning [Tuesday], rain will continue in Ulster with spot flooding. It will clear slowly northwards today. Mist and fog in many areas this morning, gradually clearing. Rain will develop in the southwest in the late morning and spread northeastwards through the afternoon and evening with a chance of spot flooding. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees with freshening southeasterly winds.

"Rain in all areas tonight with spot flooding possible. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees with moderate to fresh south to southeast winds."

The forecast for Wednesday says it "will start off dull with rain in many areas" but "the rain will gradually clear northwards with sunshine and a few showers following from the south. Winds will become westerly and will increase fresh to strong and gust for a time and easing later in the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees.

"Thursday will start off wet and windy, especially in the east and south. The rain will clear to the east and winds will become northwesterly and east somewhat. Drier, brighter weather will follow from the west and north with sunshine and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees. Thursday night will be breezy with clear spells and showers. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with fresh, gusty northwest winds.

"Friday will be a bright, breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh northwest breezes. On Friday night, it will start largely dry with clear spells with lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees . Later in the night rain will develop in the southwest and spread across Munster.

"On Saturday, rain will mainly affect Munster and Leinster with drier weather to the northwest. The rain will clear eastwards in the evening and early night with showers following. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with moderate to fresh northeast winds.

"Sunday will be a bright, breezy day with sunshine and showers. Highest temperature 9 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds."

Looking beyond that, Met Éireann says "the early days of next week will continue unsettled."