Heavy showers expected for Bank Holiday weekend

HOUSEHOLDERS chafing under the Covid-19 lockdown unfortunately won't receive much relief from Mother Nature with heavy rain showers forecast for the October bank holiday weekend.

Met Éireann officials will also be carefully tracking the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon which is now sweeping towards Europe from mid Atlantic though it will weaken to a tropical storm as it approaches Ireland.

Forecaster Siobhan Ryan said Ireland is set for some very unsettled weather over the coming days.

"On Saturday morning, rain in eastern areas will clear though heavy or squally showers will follow from the west to all areas with hail and some possibly thundery," she said.

"It will be a blustery day with fresh and gusty southwest winds, strong on coastal areas especially in the west and highest temperatures of 10C to 13C.

"A steering low will feed in blustery, thundery showers on Sunday with a risk of hail, most frequent across Atlantic counties, where they will merge into longer spells of rain at times."

"There will be some sunny spells too, with the driest and brightest conditions across the eastern half of Ireland and Dublin."

However, daytime temperatures will be cooler with potential lows of 9C or even 8C.

"A temporary ridge of high pressure will bring predominantly dry and quiet conditions daytime Monday.

However, a few showers will affect Ulster and parts of the west early on."

Rain showers may strengthen in some areas towards evening.

Weather conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday will be determined by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon.

The precise track of the storm front is unclear and there is a possibility it may largely miss Irish shores.

"Scattered blustery heavy showers are expected on Tuesday, along with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. It will be wet and very windy or even stormy after dark, in strong to gale force and gusty south to southwest winds."

Tuesday night will see a risk of heavy, thundery rain showers with a risk of hail.

"On Wednesday, sustained high winds and frequent showers are expected with the ongoing risk of hail and embedded thunderstorms."