'We need to keep an eye on next week' - Potential storm bearing down on Ireland

Ireland could be hit with another storm next week with top forecasters watching weather models closely as we head into the weekend.

According to Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel, "we need to keep one eye firmly out to the Atlantic through the second half of next week." He says this is due to the possibility that "stormy weather may develop with most models showing some very deep areas of low pressure in our vicinity, such as the one in the attached image from the GFS run this morning."

In an update to followers on Friday, Cathal added: "A lobe of the polar vortex is becoming displaced across North America, unleashing some truly bitterly cold air across the American continent, however as that very cold air streams out across the Atlantic and interacts with very warm air to the south it fires up the jet stream and spawns some deep low pressure systems.

"These particular storm depressions are projected to move very close to Ireland through the second half of next week, but higher pressure to the northeast of Ireland may cause enough of an obstacle to prevent the worst of the wind and rain from reaching us, which is where the uncertainty arises.

"There’s also the much smaller risk that the low pressure systems find a way to dig southeast and we draw in some colder air, or the possibility that these storms push more to the north and draw in mostly very mild but drier air from the south, though this seems least likely at present.

"Either way it’s something we need to pay close attention to as powerful low pressures of this magnitude can prove to be quite disruptive. There’s still much to play for and the evolution of the weather models over the coming days will be a fascinating watch."

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Met Éireann too has indicated conditions could become "more unsettled" from Tuesday next week but say between now and then, weather will be largely mild and settled.

They say Friday night will be "mainly dry but cloudy with a few patches of mist and drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds."

They predict "another mostly cloudy but dry start tomorrow [Saturday], with just isolated patches of light rain and drizzle. Some sunny spells will develop in the afternoon before outbreaks of rain push into western coasts tomorrow evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds.

"A mix of cloud and clear spell with outbreaks of rain slowly moving in from the west over much of Munster, Connacht and west Ulster [on Saturday night]. Drier and clearer further east though with a few spots of drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees generally with mostly moderate southerly winds," Met Éireann adds.

The forecast continues: "Perhaps turning slightly more unsettled with a band of rain moving in across western counties together with strengthening southerly winds [on Sunday]. Cloudy elsewhere but eastern counties should stay dry until the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

"The last of the rain will clear the east early in the night with clear spells and some showers following. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds.

"Any lingering rain will clear early but it'll remain cloudy [on Monday]. Winds will fall light however and highest temperatures will reach around 8 to 11 degrees."

They conclude with an outlook for Tuesday that says, "current indications are for it to turn slightly more unsettled again with outbreaks of rain developing from the south. Staying cloudy too with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees."