Weather warnings issued for eight counties

Ellen O'Donoghue

Weather warnings have been issued for eight counties for Friday.

Cork, Kerry and Waterford will be under a status yellow rain warning from 9am until 9pm on Friday.

A status yellow wind warning will be in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 12pm until 9pm on Friday.

Met Éireann has said that there will be spells of heavy rain in the south of the country, with potential impacts including localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

In the north west, strong and gusty south to southeast winds are expected, with potential impacts including difficult travelling conditions and some fallen trees and branches.

Nationally, Friday is expected to be a wet and windy day with gales in coastal areas.

Rain is forecast to be widespread with some heavy and squally bursts possible, especially in the late afternoon and evening.

Highest temperatures of 6 to 11 degrees are forecast with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds.

The rain will clear eastwards overnight and will be followed by scattered showers of rain or sleet and some clear spells, with winds easing too.

Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees are expected, with fresh to strong and gusty south to southwest winds, decreasing moderate to fresh.

Saturday is forecast to be windy again, with fresh to strong and gusty south to southwest winds and gales on coasts.

A crisp and sunny start in the east is expected to give way to scattered blustery showers spreading from the west.

Some of the showers will be heavy with a chance of hail and thunder, and a few could also be wintry over high ground in the west early on. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees are forecast.

On Saturday night, however, blustery weather is anticipated, with scattered showers, clear spells, and lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees with fresh and gusty south to southwest winds.

Sunday is expected to be another breezy and blustery day, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of the showers are forecast to be heavy, and there is a chance of hail.

Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees can be expected on Sunday with a moderate to fresh and gusty southwest to west breeze.

Winds should ease on Sunday night, with showers clearing from most areas, but lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees with light to moderate south to southwest winds are forecast.