Rain and wind warnings issued for western counties amid flooding risk

Two status yellow weather warnings have been issued for counties in the west of the country amid expected heavy rain and strong winds.

Met Éireann issued a status yellow wind warning on Friday for counties Donegal, Galway, and Mayo due to the expected unsettled conditions. The warning came into effect at 3pm on Friday and lasts until midnight on Saturday. The forecaster said strong south or southwest winds gusting up to 100km/h could be expected in the affected areas during this period.

Meanwhile, a status yellow rain warning was issued for counties Cork, Kerry, and Galway. This warning is valid from 6pm on Friday until 6am on Saturday, with Met Éireann warning that heavy rain in these areas during this period will bring a possibility of flooding.

A status yellow marine gale warning is also currently in place for all coasts of Ireland and on the Irish Sea until 2pm on Saturday, with south to southwest winds expected to increase to gale force 8, occasionally strong gale force 9, on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea.

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In terms of the national outlook, Met Éireann said that the rain moving in across western counties from Friday afternoon will gradually spread eastwards across the country through the day. It will become increasingly windy too. Highest temperatures on Friday will be between 5 to 9 degrees Celsius, coldest in Ulster.

Friday night is set to be wet and windy, with widespread rain and strong and gusty southerly winds. Temperatures overnight will be between 6 and 9 degrees.

Saturday is forecast to be a breezy day with outbreaks of rain in the southeast clearing to widespread blustery showers through the morning, with some heavy bursts in places. The showers will become isolated towards evening however. Highest temperatures on Saturday will be between 8 and 11 degrees.

Saturday night will see rain push in from the south, affecting much of Munster, south Leinster and south Connacht by dawn. Lowest temperatures on Saturday night will be between 4 to 6 degrees, but fresh southwest winds will moderate overnight.