As mentioned in our article on Monday on a potential storm for the start of this weekend this it now looks much clearer with all the main weather models showing very strong winds across Ireland for much of Saturday and potentially into Sunday some areas of the country particularly across the west and northwest.

Weather warnings are likely to be issued as early as Thursday for this weekend with wind and rainfall warnings possible.

Rainfall

First of all looking at Thursday a spell of rain will move up across the country during the afternoon & evening with some heavy bursts, this will clear to the north around midnight.

On Friday there will be some heavy thundery showers around with a band of heavier rain moving northwards overnight into Saturday morning bringing the risk of flooding. Up to 40mm possible in some areas especially the south, southwest and west.

Some heavy thundery showers then possible again on Saturday afternoon and evening especially in the west and northwest close to the center of the low pressure as it moves north.

Winds

Winds in parts of the southwest and south could be rather gusty on Friday

The strongest winds look set to hit Saturday especially later into morning, during the afternoon before ease a little just as we head into Saturday night. Winds will be strong throughout much of the country with a nationwide Yellow warning looking likely and a potential orange warning can't be ruled out for some areas especially the southern and western half of Ireland. Gusts of up to 120km/hrs possible in some coastal parts of the south, southwest, west and northwest. Elsewhere gusts of between 70km/hr to 110km/hr

Some weather models has this storm lasting for more than 24hrs parts of the west, northwest and north with strong winds continuing overnight Saturday into the early afternoon on Sunday.

I will have further updates on tomorrow weather models. We should start to see the first of the warnings been issued on Thursday for this weekend.