Strong gale force winds on the way as two counties hit with weather warnings
Heavy rain and thunder is also forecast for parts of Ireland in the coming days
Two counties in Ireland have been hit with Status Yellow Wind Warnings as strong to gale force and gusty southwesterly winds are expected over the next two days.
Donegal and Mayo have been issued with the warnings that are due to come into effect from 4pm today (Thursday 27) until 6am Friday morning. Potential impacts include difficult travelling conditions, and debris, loose objects displaced.
Today
Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle but clearer and drier in the east. A band of more persistent rain extending from the west will move across the country this afternoon, followed by sunny spells and isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees, but it'll turn a little cooler with the clearance of the rain. Becoming increasingly blustery later as southwest winds increase fresh to strong and gusty, with gales developing on western and northwestern coasts.
Very windy in the west and northwest tonight, with breezy or blustery conditions elsewhere. There'll be a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, some of them heavy with a chance hail. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds, reaching near gale or gale force in northwestern and some western coastal parts.
Friday
Tomorrow will be a blustery, windy day with widespread showers, turning heavy at times with a possibility of hail and isolated thunderstorms. There'll be some sunny spells mixed in too, although it will turn mostly cloudy in the west and northwest in the afternoon with the showers merging to longer spells of rain there. Colder than previous days with highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate to fresh, occasionally strong, and gusty, southwest winds, with gales on coasts.
Still some uncertainty on the exact details for Friday night, though it looks like it'll be a mix of cloud and clear spells with scattered showers, for most, some heavy with a chance of hail and thunder. There is a possibility of longer spells of rain in the west and north for a time early on in the night, and also the chance of some cloud and rain affecting the south coast. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with a chance of frost and fog patches as winds fall light and variable overnight.
Saturday
Variable cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers, turning heavy at times, with hail and isolated thunderstorms possible. Rather cold with highest temperatures of just 5 to 8 degrees. Light variable winds will become light to moderate north to northwest as the day goes on, possibly fresher for a time in the southwest.
There'll be a few scattered showers in parts of the west and north on Saturday night, but it'll be dry and clear in many areas. A cold night with some frost and icy patches possible as winds fall light westerly or variable, with temperatures dropping to between -2 and +2 degrees.
Sunday
Cold and frosty to begin on Sunday, with some sunshine for a time, especially further east. However, it'll turn cloudier from the west, with rain and drizzle gradually spreading eastwards. Afternoon highs of 4 to 8 degrees in mainly light southerly winds, increasing moderate later.
Mostly cloudy and damp with outbreaks of rain and drizzle on Sunday night. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees, coldest early on in the night but becoming milder overnight, in light to moderate southerly winds.
Monday
Wet and cloudy to begin on Monday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, clearing eastwards through the morning, giving way to showers, some of them heavy. Light to moderate southerly winds veering westerly, will be fresh to strong at times near southern coasts. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees.
Further Outlook
Continuing changeable and unsettled with Atlantic low pressure dominating the weather pattern.