A deluge of wet and windy conditions will lash Ireland tonight, as the unsettled weather that has plagued the country in recent days continues. Yesterday, remnants of ex-Hurricane Ernesto brought heavy rain and gale-force winds. Hot on its heels is yet another powerful Atlantic system, named Storm Lilian by the UK's Met Office, that is forecast to sweep Ireland tonight.
After a clear morning, rain is set to return from the southwest this afternoon, spreading across the country and becoming heavy in some areas. Tonight, widespread rain could lead to flooding, while strong winds - reaching gale-force in in parts of the south and east - could make conditions challenging. Temperatures are also forecast to drop below average.
With miserable conditions looming, Met Éireann has issued two separate weather warnings for a double blast of wind and rain.
Storm Lilian Warnings and Impacts
A Status Yellow rain warning for Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath has been issued from 10pm until 4am. It warns of "heavy rain spreading northeastwards" with the potential for localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.
A Status Yellow wind warning for Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Kerry, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Kildare and Dublin is in place from midnight until 6am. It warns of "unseasonably strong and gusty south to southwest winds veering west to northwest" with a "continuing risk of coastal flooding due to very high tides". The national forecaster has warned residents in these counties to be prepared for potential power outages, fallen trees, debris or loose objects displaced and wave over-topping.
Storm Lilian: Impacts Beyond the Warnings
While the counties named in the weather warnings are expected to suffer the worst of the Storm Lilian, the rest of the country won't escape unscathed. Weather maps show the entire country will be impacted with rain and wind.
Storm Lilian's Impact: A Look Ahead
Met Éireann said: "Friday will bring a mix of sunny spells and showers. The showers will be mainly in the west at first, but they'll spread elsewhere in the afternoon, and some of them will be heavy with isolated thunderstorms and the chance of hail, especially in the west and north. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C . Light to moderate westerly winds will increase moderate to fresh southwest in the afternoon increasing strong and gusty near western and southwestern coasts later.
"On Friday night, showers or longer spells of rain with an ongoing chance of isolated thunderstorms will gradually become confined to the west and north. Long clear spells will develop elsewhere overnight. Lowest temperatures of 8C to 11C with southwesterly winds decreasing mostly moderate overland, fresher near coasts.
"Saturday will be a bright and breezy day with sunshine and showers, some heavy. There'll be good dry spells too, especially further to the east and south. Moderate to fresh and occasionally gusty westerly winds will be strong at times in coastal parts of the west and north. Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C . It'll be largely dry on Saturday night with clear spells, with just a few showers in the west and northwest. Lowest temperatures of 8C to 11C in light to moderate southwest winds.
"Dry with some sunshine in the east at first on Sunday, however, cloudier conditions in the west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will gradually spread eastwards as the day goes on. Becoming drier and brighter again from the west later in the day. Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C in mostly moderate south to southwest breezes. It'll be largely dry on Sunday night with clear spells, and just a few showers near Atlantic coasts. Cloud amounts will increase overnight. Lowest temperatures of 11C to 14C in light to moderate southwest winds."
