Storm Darragh to bring heavy rain and high winds as Met Éireann issues Status Orange warnings for 11 counties in coming days

There are already Status Yellow weather for Thursday for seven counties, which will be hit by rain and wind.

On Friday and Saturday, forecasters are warning of fallen trees, damage to power lines, very difficult travelling conditions, damage to temporary structures and wave overtopping, with poor visibility and possible localised flooding.

A Status Yellow wind warning has been issued for Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal from 1pm on Thursday until 9pm.

Another wind warning is in place for Co Kerry from noon until 6pm on Thursday.

The national forecaster has warned of strong west to northwest winds and urged people to avoid taking any avoidable risks.

Between Thursday afternoon and Thursday night the wind gusts could reach 110 km/h.

A Status Yellow wind warning was also issued for Northern Ireland in counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry where some disruption could be possible from strong and gusty winds.

This warning is valid from 3pm on Thursday until 3am on Friday.

However, as Storm Darragh moves in from Friday and into Saturday, more severe Status Orange warnings are in place for wind and rain.

On Friday from 10pm to 9am Saturday an Orange wind warning is in place for Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, with warnings of very strong and gusty northwest winds.

A Status Yellow heavy rain warning is also in place for Clare, Connacht, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath from 10am on Friday until 10am on Saturday, with heavy rain on Friday followed by heavy showers on Saturday morning.

Met Éireann Weather Warning

Storm Darragh: heavy rain on Friday followed by heavy showers Saturday morning.

Another Status Yellow wind warning is in place for strong and gusty south to southwest winds veering northwest for the whole country from 3pm on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.

In Northern Ireland, warnings are also in place across the weekend.

Again on Saturday, an Orange wind warning is in place for Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, from 10pm on Friday to 9am on Saturday.

And an Orange wind warning for Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow is in force from midnight on Saturday to 9am, with Status Yellow rain warnings also in place.

Irish weather warning colours explained

Today will see heavy rain in places and squally winds spreading eastwards across the country and gradually clearing during the afternoon, followed by scattered showers.

Southerly winds will become west to northwesterly and will increase fresh to strong and very gusty, reaching gale force at times near Atlantic and southern coasts, Met Éireann says. Temperatures will be 8 to 13C.

The winds will ease overnight, with showers becoming isolated. Some areas will be frosty and icy with lows of 0 to 5C.

Friday will be cloudy with rain becoming widespread, with localised flooding possible, and sleet possible on hills.

Highs 6 to 13C, and becoming very windy with the possibility of stormy conditions in the west and southwest.

It will be extremely windy or stormy on Friday night, with heavy rain for a time, with lows of 0 to 3C.

Cold and windy again on Saturday with some hail, sleet and snow showers likely in higher areas and a chance of thunder in the north and northwest, with highs of 4 to 8C, but feeling colder due to wind chill, Met Éireann says.

Sunday and Monday will be cold and breezy, becoming very cold on Monday night, with widespread sharp to severe frost and ice and some freezing fog in lows of -3 to 2C.

Tuesday will see fog lingering, with highs of 2 to 7C.