'Damaging gusts' of up to 110kmh predicted as Storm Dudley bears down on country

The warning that was issued by Met Eireann will remain in place until midday tomorrow ahead of the arrival of Storm Eunice on Thursday night which has the potential to be a “multi-hazard and disruptive event with damaging winds, heavy rain and snow possible”.

The forecaster added: “Current indications are that the strongest winds are most likely to affect southern counties.

“The most significant falls of snow are most likely over central and northern parts of the country with locally blizzard conditions possible for a time and disruption to travel.”

Meanwhile, Met Éireann said westerly winds associated with Storm Dudley will reach mean speeds of between 50 and 65km/h with a combination of high tide and strong winds leading to flooding on exposed coasts.

Members of the Government committee that co-ordinates responses to emergencies has already met in preparation for the forthcoming storms.

Its Crisis Management Team is liaising with Met Éireann to monitor the evolving weather patterns and intends to conduct further meetings of the group over the coming days.

The Road Safety Authority has also appealed to road-users to exercise caution over the coming days.

Met Eireann said that today will be wet and very windy after a mild and largely dry start with just a few patches of light rain and drizzle.

Showery outbreaks of heavy rain will move into parts of the west during the morning, tracking eastwards and bringing a risk of spot flooding.

West to southwest winds will increase strong and very gusty, reaching gale force or strong gale on exposed coasts with some coastal flooding possible.

Tonight will be very windy although this will start to ease towards morning.

It will be a windy start to Thursday morning although some good sunny spells will develop along with scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow. Cloud will build from the southwest towards the evening, ahead of rain and strengthening winds from Storm Eunice.

As for Thursday night, Met Eireann said there is “some uncertainty” in the details but it will be a wet and potentially very windy night as Storm Eunice approaches from the southwest.

“Winds are likely to be strongest over the southern half of the country,” they added. “Heavy rain will push in from the southwest too bringing risks of spot flooding. There will also be falls of sleet and snow with accumulations possible.”

Friday will be potentially very windy at first, especially in the south, with widespread heavy rain along with falls of sleet and snow.

Storm Eunice and its associated rain will clear away through the morning and early afternoon. And as the storm clears, fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds will follow in behind bringing much colder conditions along with sunny spells and wintry showers, most frequent over the western half of the country.

There is also a chance of isolated thunderstorms.

Friday night will see clear spells and wintry showers at first with moderate, occasionally fresh westerly winds, while Saturday will be a wet day with spells of rain and showers, and falls of sleet and snow during the morning. Temperatures will increase overnight as southwest winds increase strong and gusty along with widespread heavy rain extending from the northwest which will bring risks of spot flooding.

Sunday morning will be wet, with widespread heavy rain and localised flooding although current indications suggest that it will continue generally unsettled into next week, with breezy conditions and spells of rain and showers for the early part of Monday.