More wind and rain for Ireland as series of Weather Warnings issued

Met Eireann has issued a series of weather warnings with more wind and rain on the way for Ireland this weekend. 

Eight counties are now covered by a Status Yellow Wind and Rain Warning with four covered by a separate Wind Warning.

A Status Yellow Wind and Rain warning for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Mayo and Wexford comes into effect at 2am on Saturday morning and remains in place until 11pm on Saturday.

It warns that southwest winds will be strong and gusty at times coupled with heavy rain and thundery showers.

Potential impacts include surface flooding, wave overtopping, loose debris with objects displaced and difficult travelling conditions

A Status Yellow Wind warning for Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick warns that westerly winds veering northwesterly will be strong and gusty at times.

Potential Impacts include loose debris with objects displaced, difficult travelling conditions and wave overtopping. 

This warning comes into place at 11pm on Saturday and remains in place until 5pm on Sunday.

The full Met Eireann weather forecast for Ireland for the coming days is as follows.

Some clear spells at first tonight with just isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with some frost and icy stretches forming with light breezes. However, cloud will build from the southwest, turning milder as the rain follows, extending northeastwards over much of the country by morning, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southeasterly winds. There is a chance of transient falls of sleet on the leading edge of the rain.

A wet and windy start to Saturday with widespread rain, heavy or thundery at times with some localised flooding possible. The rain will clear from the west to sunny spells and showers from the western half of the country through the morning, extending to all areas in the afternoon. Some showers will be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in the northwest. Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, with onshore gales, will mean there is a chance of coastal flooding in the south and southwest.

Clear spells and squally showers overnight on Saturday, most frequent in the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southerly or cyclonic variable winds.

Breezy or windy with sunny spells and scattered showers and a chance of hail on Sunday. Fresh to strong and gusty westerly or cyclonic variable winds will gradually decrease moderate to fresh and gusty through the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees generally.

Showers will continue overnight on Sunday night, mainly for Atlantic counties with longer spells of rain possible in the northwest. Some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

Sunny spells and scattered showers at first on New Year's Day, becoming more isolated through the morning and early afternoon. Cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over much of the country by night-time. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and increasing moderate to fresh with the rain.