The weekend weather forecast indicates that it will be wet and windy to begin today, Friday, February 21, with spells of occasionally heavy rain, with some spot flooding possible.

Brighter conditions with sunny spells and scattered showers will gradually extend from the west this morning and afternoon, according to Met Éireann.

Strong and gusty southerly winds will decrease moderate to fresh south-west with the clearance and highest temperatures will range from 10° to 13°C.

Showers will gradually retreat to Atlantic coastal counties early tonight, where some may be heavy with isolated thunderstorms and hail possible.

It will be mostly dry and clear further east. It will also be cooler than previous nights with lowest temperatures of 3° to 7° in a light to moderate south-west breeze.

Meanwhile, there is a Status Yellow warning for wind and rainfall in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford which came into effect at 6:00a.m today and will remain in place until 10:00a.m

Very strong and gusty southerly winds, coupled with heavy rainfall with potential impacts such as some fallen trees or branches; difficult travelling conditions; debris, loose objects displaced; localised flooding.

In Northern Ireland, a Status Yellow wind warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down came into effect at 6:00a.m today and will remain in place until 1:00p.m.

Looking at the weekend weather forecast, tomorrow, Saturday, will be a bright day with plenty of sunshine on offer and just a few passing showers, these mainly affecting the west and north-west.

Highest temperatures will range between 10° to 12° in light to moderate south-west winds.

Saturday night will start out largely dry with just isolated showers but cloud will thicken from the Atlantic and rain will push eastwards across the country overnight.

Winds will increase too, with strong to gale force southerly winds developing and lowest temperatures of 5° to 8°, will occur early in the night.

Wet and windy to begin on Sunday with widespread rain. There will be some heavy falls with spot flooding possible.

The rain will gradually clear eastwards through the morning and afternoon but it will remain windy with scattered blustery showers following from the west, some of them heavy with isolated thunderstorms.

Highest temperatures on Sunday will range from 11° to 14° in strong to gale force south-west winds.

Sunday night will bring clear spells and scattered showers, the showers heaviest and most frequent in the west. Lowest temperatures will be between 4° and 7° in fresh south-west winds, easing a little overnight.

Monday will be a fresh and blustery day with sunny spells and showers. Some heavy, thundery downpours with hail are possible.

Maximum temperatures of 8° to 11° in moderate to fresh and gusty west to south-west winds. Scattered showers will continue on Monday night, some of them heavy with hail and thunder possible.

There will be some dry and clear intervals too, however. Lowest temperatures will range from 2° to 5° with moderate to fresh west to south-west winds.

Tuesday will be another day of sunshine and showers. The showers will be mainly in the west at first, but they will spread elsewhere as the day goes on and some will be heavy with a chance of hail.

Highest temperatures on Tuesday will range from 7° to 9° in moderate, occasionally fresh, and gusty westerly winds.According to the national forecaster there is some uncertainty in the details for Wednesday and Thursday at present, but the slightly cooler and unsettled conditions seem likely to persist.

Well-drained and most moderately drained soils are currently saturated. All poorly drained soils and moderately drained soils in the south and west are waterlogged.

Spells of rain over the coming week will lead to all soils remaining saturated or waterlogged.