Met Éireann has said that Storm Darragh will bring strong and gusty south to southwest winds this afternoon (Friday, December 6) across Ireland.
Those winds will veer northwest and strengthen on Friday night in the southwest, west and northwest of the country, and in parts of the southeast in the early hours of Saturday, before clearing over to the UK.
A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for counties Clare; Cork; Galway; Kerry; Leitrim; Limerick; Mayo; Roscommon; Sligo; Tipperary, and Waterford from 8:00p.m tonight until 10:00a.m tomorrow.
A similar warning for Carlow; Cavan; Donegal; Dublin; Kildare; Kilkenny; Laois; Longford; Louth; Meath; Monaghan; Offaly; Westmeath; Wexford and Wicklow will be valid from 10:00p.m tonight until 10:00a.m tomorrow.
The national meteorological service has said that there will be a risk of fallen trees; damage to power lines; very difficult travelling conditions; damage to temporary structures and wave overtopping.
A Status Yellow wind warning for the entire country will be valid from 3:00p.m today until 3:00p.m tomorrow.
Met Éireann has also issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Clare; Connacht; Donegal; Cavan; Monaghan; Longford; Louth; Meath and Westmeath.
The warning for heavy rain which could lead to localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions will be in place for 24 hours from 10:00a.m today.
The UK Met Office has also issued Status Yellow warnings for wind and rain in Northern Ireland which could potentially cause “some disruption and damage”.
These warnings will come into force from 3:00p.m today.
Weekend
The forecast for today shows that rain will move in from the west during the day, with some heavy falls. There is a possibility of sleet on northern hills and isolated thunderstorms.
The strong and gusty south to southeast winds will develop through the morning and will become very strong and gusty south to southwest in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 8° to 13°C.
There will be some severe and damaging gusts tonight with the northwesterly winds reaching storm force at times along coasts.
The rain, which will be heavy at times, will gradually clear eastwards through the night, but will continue in the northeast and east into Saturday morning. Lowest overnight temperatures of 1° to 5°.
Storm Darragh will continue to bring unsettled conditions on Saturday morning. The strongest winds will be in the morning but it will stay blustery during the day.
Once the rain clears from the northeast and east, there will be scattered showers, with falls of hail possible.
Mostly dry with sunny spells on Sunday, cloudy in parts of the west and northwest, with some showers along eastern coasts. Highest temperatures of 6° to 8° with moderate to fresh northerly winds.
It will be mainly dry on Sunday night with temperatures dropping to between 0° and 5° leading to the possibility of frost and icy patches.
On Monday, it will be dry with sunny spells in many areas, cloudy at times in the east and southeast, bringing isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 5° to 10° in a light to moderate northeasterly wind.
It will be cold on Monday night as temperatures drop to as low as -2° in places allowing frost, fog and some icy stretches to form.
The frost and ice will clear on Tuesday morning, but the fog will be slow to clear and may linger in some parts through the day. Highest temperatures of 2° to 7°, feeling coldest in the northwest.
Met Éireann
Met Éireann has said that the coming seven days will be unsettled at first, but from Sunday onwards it will turn drier. Rainfall amounts will be near average or slightly below as a result.
It is due to turn colder over the next seven days, particularly from Sunday onwards with increased potential for frost and icy patches this weekend and in the early days of next week.
Mean air temperatures will generally be between normal and 2°C below normal.
Mean soil temperatures are currently between 6.8° and 10°, which is 0.9° to 2.7° above normal. Soil temperatures will decrease slightly in the week ahead.
Met Éireann has said that drying conditions will be mostly poor due to spells of rain and showers, while opportunities for spraying will generally be limited for the rest of the week.
All soils are saturated with poorly drained soils waterlogged. Soils will see some improvement in the coming week due to limited rainfall from Monday.