Met Eireann warns of severe weather shift as brutal Atlantic system to unleash wrath in days
Met Eireann has issued an advance weather warning ahead of stormy conditions hitting Ireland later this week.
The country has been engulfed in a major cold blast in recent days, with temperatures dropping below freezing and wintry conditions at times. However a major shift has been signalled from Wednesday.
The national forecaster says the weather will “transition to a milder and more mobile Atlantic regime through the rest of this week and this weekend”.
A Status Yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for seven counties – Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow. It begins at 10am on Wednesday and lasts until 1pm on Thursday.
The meteorological agency said: “Spells of heavy rain spreading eastwards will be accompanied by strong and gusty southeasterly winds. Potential impacts include localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility.”
Temperatures are forecast to plummet as low as -2C tonight, but it’s set to feel warmer from tomorrow as the approaching Atlantic system brings in milder air, along with wet and windy weather.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect for the coming days, Met Eireann said: “Cold and mostly dry to begin on Tuesday night with a mix of cloud and some clear spells and just a few patches of light rain or drizzle near the east coast. Lowest temperatures of -2C to 4C, with some frost and ice and patchy fog or freezing fog for a time. Temperatures will rise from the southwest overnight as cloud thickens and rain and drizzle spread northeastwards, perhaps falling as sleet for a short time but soon transitioning to rain, clearing any frost and ice by morning. Light southeast or variable winds will increase light to moderate by morning.
“Wednesday, will be a damp, cloudy and rather windy day, with outbreaks of rain, turning heavy at times, especially across parts of Munster and south Leinster, bringing a risk of spot flooding. Milder than recent days, with afternoon highs of 7C to 10C generally, though a little cooler in Ulster, in fresh to strong and gusty southeast winds.
Rain map for Wednesday at 3pm
“Mild, wet and windy Wednesday night, especially in the east and north early on. Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, will give way to some drier intervals extending from the southwest for a time, but further outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread from the south later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 9C, coldest in Ulster early on. Fresh to strong and gusty southeast winds will moderate for a time before picking up again towards morning.
Wind map for Wednesday at 3pm
“Damp or wet and breezy to begin on Thursday with further outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, bringing an ongoing risk of spot flooding. A clearance to sunny spells and blustery showers, some heavy, will extend from the southwest through the morning and early afternoon. Highest temperatures of 9C to 12C in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, with coastal gales developing on Atlantic and southern coasts during the afternoon and evening.
“Showers or longer spells of rain on Thursday night, some heavy, especially in parts of the west and south. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 8C in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds.
“At present, Friday looks set to bring a mix of cloud and bright spells with scattered showers, with the showers merging to longer spells of rain at times over the southern half of the country. Possibly windy across Munster for a time, but lighter winds elsewhere, becoming light to moderate northwesterly in all parts later in the day. Highest temperatures of 8C to 11C.
“Clear spells and well scattered showers at first Friday night. Cloud and rain spreading from the southwest later. Light westerly or variable winds becoming southeast overnight, freshening in the southwest towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 2C to 5C across the northern half of the country, 6C to 9C further south.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, the national forecaster said the wet and windy conditions are expected to continue.
It concluded: “Atlantic low pressure looks set to dominate bringing further spells of wet and windy weather with temperatures near or slightly above average for the time of year.”
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