Met Éireann: Winds to abate from south but weekend to be wet
Met Éireann has warned that Storm Éowyn will continue to bring "mostly gale to storm force southwest to west winds, with destructive and damaging gusts" today (Friday, January 24).
It has also advised that "violent storm force to hurricane force winds will occur for a time in some western coastal parts of Connacht and coastal parts of west and north Ulster".
However, although the winds will "gradually abate" from the south over the course of the day it is expected to remain very windy in northern areas until evening time.
According to the national meteorological service there will also be "scattered squally showers" with longer spells of rain across the north of the country.
"Some of the showers will be of hail, with the chance of a little sleet and hill snow later.
"Highest afternoon temperatures of 5° to 8° but feeling much colder due to wind-chill," It outlined.
By tonight it is expected that the winds will have become light to moderate and there will be a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, mainly in the west and north, which could also bring hail, sleet and snow.
According to Met Éireann lowest temperatures could be in the region of -2° to +2° with some frost and ice.
It is also likely to be a frosty day tomorrow (Saturday, January 25) but the early outlook is dry with sunny spells.
"Cloud will increase from the west, with a band of showery rain moving into western parts through the morning and gradually spread eastwards through the day, with a little bit of sleet too, mainly over higher ground," the national meteorological service stated.
The western half of the country can also expect sunshine and scattered showers by the afternoon, with some hail, sleet and possibly hill snow.
According to Met Éireann there is also the possibility of a few isolated thunderstorms.
"A rather cold day with highest temperatures of 3° to 7°.
"Southerly winds will increase fresh and gusty for a time, stronger in some coastal parts, but easing again later," it added.
The national meteorological service is forecasting "wet and windy" conditions for Sunday, with a band of rain gradually spreading northeastwards through the morning and afternoon, some of it potentially "heavy and possibly thundery".
"The rain will clear northeastwards later, but scattered showers will follow and with more persistent and heavy rain likely to move into the south and southeast in the evening.
"Highest temperatures of 6° to 10° in strong and gusty southeasterly winds, reaching gale force for a time in some coastal parts, decreasing mostly moderate southerly away from the west coast later in the day," Met Éireann added.
By Sunday night there could some persistent rain for a time in parts of the south and east, while the rest of the country is likely to have a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, these will mainly be located in the west and south and could be heavy and possibly thundery in places.
Temperatures are expected to sit around 1° in the north to 6° in the south and southwest, however costal parts of the country are likely to be impacted again by winds which could be "strong to near gale force".
Looking ahead, Met Éireann has indicated that low pressure will continue to dominate for the rest of the weekend and for the first half of next week, with further spells of wet and windy weather.
But it expects that high pressure is likely "to bring some drier weather at least for a time later in the week".
