1 week Ago By Jodie McCormack
THERE is a "risk of storm" in store for the weekend as "heavy" rain, "very strong" winds and thunderstorms are set to batter Ireland. And Met Eireann have warned of coastal flooding - even without heavy rainfall - thanks to "very high tides". Met Eireann forecast wet and windy conditions for Saturday night and into Sunday as a storm looms.
The weather bosses said: "Becoming wet and windy with strong and gusty southerly winds and widespread rain, heavy at times. Lowest temperatures of 9C to 13C. "While there is some uncertainty, Sunday looks like it will be a windy day with very strong and gusty southwesterly winds and potential for coastal flooding.
"Rain will clear early in the day with sunny spells and showers following for most. Highest temperatures of 12C to 15C." And weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather also weighed in on the bleak forecast.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he said: "Still uncertainty around Saturday night and Sunday with risk of storm but some models have it rather deep off to the West coast and bringing strong winds to Ireland, some don’t develop it as much." He added: "Certainly one to watch over next few days." And in yet another separate warning Met Eireann warned the tides will see an increase in coastal flooding.
Unfortunately, even if heavy rain holds off this risk will not diminish any. Met Eireann's Aoife Kealy said: "We are coming into a period of very spring tides, which means that there will be potential for coastal flooding, even in the absence of heavy rain and strong winds." And looking to the earlier half of the week Aoife warned of "unsettled" conditions right up until the weekend.
She said: "Our weather is going to be fairly unsettled now for the rest of the week and through the weekend. "Wet and breezy conditions at times." Today will start off cloudy with outbreaks of rain, particularly in the east and northeast.
As the day progresses a "heavy burst" of rain is expected with temperatures of 14C to 18C. Tonight rain will clear leaving just fog and mist patches lingering over the country overnight. Lowest temperatures will remain around 8C to 12C.
Moving into tomorrow it will be "mild" coupled with some sunny spells. However as the day moves on there is a risk of thunderstorms. Met Eireann advised: "Scattered showers will move northeastwards across the country through the day, some heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms.
"The showers will become isolated in the late afternoon.Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C in light to moderate southerly winds, veering westerly." And for the rest of the week they added: "Remaining unsettled to end the week and over the weekend with wet and breezy conditions at times.
" Despite milder conditions on Thursday, the weather reverts back to a cold and windy front on Friday. Met Eireann warn: "Wet and blustery on Friday with outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards across the country, turning heavy or thundery in places." Strong southerly winds are expected at times with temperatures of 14C to 17C.
These wet conditions will ease off into just light showers on Friday night with more settled conditions renaming in place over the day Saturday. However, towards evening cloud will gradually begin to build as that storm risk rolls around that night..
