Storm Dudley to bring gale force winds

Weather Warning from Met Éireann

A 'Status Yellow' wind warning has been issued for Ireland as Storm Dudley nears.

Met Éireann is forecasting a most unsettled week ahead with the weather expected to cause some disruption at times so they urge people to keep up to date with weather warnings.

Storm Dudley will track to the north of Ireland on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Warnings are in operation for the country. After a brief respite on Thursday, Storm Eunice looks likely to track up over Ireland later on Thursday night and during Friday, bringing with it the potential for some severe winds countrywide. It also has the potential to bring falls of snow.

Met Éireann issued the Status Yellow weather warning yesterday and it will come into effect at 12 noon tomorrow (Wednesday) until 12 noon the following day (Thursday).

The national weather forecaster says: 'Westerly winds associated with Storm Dudley will reach mean speeds of 50–65km/h with damaging gusts of 80–110km/h, stronger on exposed coasts and on high ground.

'A combination of high tide and strong winds will lead to flooding on exposed coasts.'

Status yellow applies to weather that 'does not pose a threat to the general population but is potentially dangerous on a localised scale'.

Meanwhile, the forecast for the day suggests a mostly dry start with some sunshine and just a few showers, though rain may linger in parts of the south for a time during the morning. Afternoon temperatures will range between 5 and 9 degrees in fresh westerly winds. Another more active spell of rain extends from the west during the afternoon then spreads throughout the country by evening, bringing rain, with heavy falls, and localised flooding possible in the west.

Very wet tonight with widespread rain continuing to bring a risk of flooding in places. The rain will eventually clear eastwards overnight followed by scattered showers. After a cooler evening, temperatures later tonight will range between 9 and 11 degrees in a strong westerly wind

Wednesday will be a very windy day. Winds will increase strong to gale force with stormy conditions likely to develop in western and northern coastal counties and the risk of some coastal flooding due to wave overtopping. A wet day with scattered showers throughout but they will clear later in the evening with highs of 10 to 13 degrees.

A very windy and wet evening in store for many on Wednesday night. Gale or strong gale force winds will affect areas in the far north of the country with blustery westerly winds elsewhere. Outbreaks of rain will become more persistent in the north of the country, but gradually ease further south with lows overnight of 2 to 4 degrees. Stormy conditions are likely to develop for a time around western and northern coastal areas with the risk of some coastal flooding from wave overtopping possible.

Thursday is expected another wet day for western areas with brisk northwest winds bringing in plenty of showers for coastal areas in the west and north. It will be a little drier and brighter further east however with highs of 7 to 11 degrees.

Thursday night: A change to far more unsettled weather as a developing weather system from the southwest brings spells of rain, which will be heavy at times along with strong and blustery winds. This will spread across the country through the evening and overnight and can be wintry at times too. The winds will be very strong and gusty with overnight lows of 1 to 3 degrees.

Friday is promised a very wet and blustery morning with outbreaks of rain and showers across the country where some of the showers could be wintry too. Sleet showers or snow flurries are possible on higher ground. A change to strong westerly winds with further showers feeding in from the west later in the day, some wintry too, with snow possible on higher ground in the west and north.

It will remain very unsettled for the weekend with strong and blustery westerly winds feeding in plenty of showers across the country on Saturday and Sunday. The showers will be heavy at times too particularly on Sunday along Atlantic coastal counties.