A Status Orange rain warning came into effect for Donegal, Galway, and Mayo at 1am today, bringing very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and a strong likelihood of damage to homes and businesses alongside significant public transport disruptions across the region.
Severe weather is battering the western seaboard this morning as Met Éireann transitions lower alerts into high-impact warnings across multiple counties. The national forecaster reported that very heavy and persistent rain with thunderstorms and lightning damage are possible during the morning hours, with flooding, disruption and delays to public transport as well as very difficult travelling conditions also possible.
Warning Timelines Across Western and Southern Counties
The severe weather escalation began overnight. A Status Yellow rain warning came into effect at 9pm yesterday for Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo, lasting until 9am this morning. At 1am, this yellow alert transitioned into an orange warning for Donegal, Galway and Mayo, remaining active until 7am.
At the same time, marine hazards developed off the coast. A Status Yellow gale warning is in place across much of the west and northwest coast, featuring south to southwest winds to reach as high as gale-force eight, alongside a small-crafts marine warning for the west coast on Friday night into Saturday morning with winds of force six or stronger expected.
Looking further south, conditions will deteriorate later today. A separate rain warning will come into effect for Cork and Kerry later this morning, with the Status Yellow alert coming into effect at 9am and remaining in place until 9pm tomorrow night. Met Éireann said there will be a spell of persistent rain, turning heavy at times, bringing potential impacts including localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and outdoor events impacted.
Weekend Weather Progression and Transition
Overall, mixed conditions are forecast for the remainder of the weekend and into next week, with periods of dry and bright weather interspersed with wet or showery ones. The rain will spread from the west through the night, though the southeast may stay dry until the morning. Southwesterly winds will also increase moderate to fresh and gusty, stronger near coasts, with lows of 10C to 15C.
Saturday will stay wet and breezy, and while the rain will clear southwards through the morning, it may linger in the south for much of the day. Further north, drier conditions will develop with scattered showers and possibly some brighter spells following the clearance of the rain, with highest temperatures of 16C to 21C.
Any lingering rain in the south should clear early on Saturday night, leaving a mostly dry night with a mix of cloud and clear spells with a chance of a light shower, as temperatures drop to between 9C and 13C. Sunday is expected to stay dry for many, with just a few light showers expected. While it will be quite cloudy, some sunny spells will break through at times, with highs of 16C to 21C.
Sunday night will be mild with a mix of cloud and clear spells, but outbreaks of rain will arrive in Atlantic coastal areas towards the morning, bringing lowest temperatures of 12C to 14C, with a light to moderate south to southwest breeze.
Outlook Into Next Week
It is likely to remain changeable into next week with rain forecast for every day. It will become a little cooler from Tuesday, when maximum temperatures are forecast to be between 14 and 18 degrees.
