'Strongest winds of the winter' - Storm Éowyn could batter Ireland stormy weather

Met Éireann's official storm forecasting partner has put the public on alert for a potentially big Atlantic storm the Irish weather forecaster saying it will become very unsettled.

The UK Met Office has warned that 250 km jet stream winds looks set to drive a deepening low-pressure system over Ireland and Britain next weekend. 

"A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far. 

"This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely. Keep up to date with the forecast," said the Met Office in a post on X.

Met Éireann, expects very unsettled weather with strong winds to develop on Friday with potential for heavy rainfall. The national outlook from the Irish forecaster says outbreaks of rain at times can be expected early this week but there'll be a good deal of dry weather overall. However, it expects colder conditions from Tuesday night with more unsettled conditions developing on Thursday.

Met Éireann and the Met Office jointly forecast and name storms with their Dutch counterparts. The next named storm is Éowyn. MORE from MET Éireann BELOW X POST FROM THE MET OFFICE.

National Weather Forecast from Met Éireann issued at 1.46pm on Sunday, January 19.

Sunday: Generally cloudy with patchy light rain and drizzle slowly spreading eastwards across the western half of the country through the day with some eastern areas staying dry until after dark. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.

Staying cloudy at first ovnight with patchy light rain and drizzle becoming confined to the east and southeast. Clear spells will develop in the west and north overnight. Areas of mist and fog will form also in a light variable or southerly breeze. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees, coldest in the west and north.

Monday: Mist and fog will gradually clear tomorrow morning to leave a mostly dry day with just a few patches of light rain and drizzle across the south and east and well scattered showers elsewhere. Quite cloudy overall but some spells of hazy sunshine will develop. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in a light variable breeze.

A cloudy night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the southwest. Mist and fog developing overnight, turning dense in places. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees in a light southerly or variable breeze.

Tuesday: Mist and fog will be slow to clear on Tuesday morning. It will be mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most persistent in the south and east. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in a light southwest or variable breeze.

Rain will clear to the southeast overnight. It will turn colder with scattered showers and a few clear spells spreading from the northwest. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees in a light southerly breeze.

Wednesday: A cooler day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees, a little milder in west Munster, in light variable winds.

Thursday: Dry to start with sunny spells. It will turn cloudier through the day with a band of rain spreading from the southwest. Rather chilly with highest temperatures of 2 degrees in the north to 7 degrees in the south. Light southeasterly winds will increase moderate westerly with the rain.

Further outlook: Friday and the weekend will be very unsettled with strong winds developing and the potential for heavy rainfall.