Storm to hit coasts with very high waves and strong winds

Met Éireann has issued an orange weather warning as an Atlantic storm is set to lash the country with heavy rain and gale force winds this weekend.

Coastal residents are to be the worst hit with “extremely high waves” of over 10 metres combined with very high spring tides and onshore winds meaning a “high risk” of flooding on Saturday in the southwest, west and north, Met Éireann has forecast.

The worst of the weather will be on Saturday which Met Éireann forecasts will be a “very windy or stormy” day. There will be widespread heavy showers of rain, hail and sleet and snow for a time on higher ground, it forecast.

The storm depression will hit the northeast on Friday night and may reach strong or gale force with gusts of 90 to 130km/hr by Saturday. The Coast Guard has urged people to "take care" as the Atlantic storm moves in.

Met Éireann’s orange level wind warning covers Munster, Connacht and Donegal.

The meteorological body has also issued a yellow level wind warning for early on Friday in most parts of the State. Although not as strong as Friday , the southerly winds of 45km/h will gust up to 85km/h.

It also warns of heavy rain and possible snow tomorrow with falls of 25 to 40mm expected. Tomorrow will be chilly with temperatures as low as -2 degrees.However there will be bright spells by the afternoon.

Dublin City Council has issued a flood warning for the weekend due to very high tides beginning tomorrow at 11.30pm until Saturday.

It is closing the city boardwalk as a precautionary measure and may close lanes along the quays due to localised flooding.

Other measures include putting sandbags in place at Clontarf closing car parks at Sandymount and Clontarf and putting the flood defence gates in place on the River Dodder.

Unsettled weather is set to continue on Sunday however heavy rain and strong winds will spread from the south west and the weather will continue to be unsettled next week, Met Éireann has forecast.

The Met Éireann weather warning system has three levels. The highest is red meaning severe warning take action, orange means be prepared and yellow means be aware.