'Damaging' storm bears down on Ireland and could be named amid warnings

Weather experts are keeping a close eye on a storm bearing down on Ireland this week. The low pressure system is currently brewing in the Atlantic with weather models now suggesting it will hit our shores on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has given a new update in which he says "there's been a general shift towards a more easterly track in most weather models, which increases the risk of damaging winds impacting a wider area across the country as we go through Sunday.

"This development is particularly pronounced in the ECMWF and UK Met Office models this evening," he said on Wednesday.

"While there remains great uncertainty regarding the track and intensity of the storm, and indeed changes to the forecast area likely, maximum winds on Sunday could reach widely up to 110km/h, with a risk that gusts in some areas could well reach up to 140km/h, or higher as indicated by the models.

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"There’s also the possibility of coastal flooding on Friday and again on Sunday due to the combination of strong winds and high spring tides," Cathal concluded.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather similarly said: "Latest ECMWF charts showing risk of storm Saturday into Sunday. A messy and complex looking system."

Met Éireann, meanwhile, have not yet predicted a storm but continue a trend of unsettled forecasts. Their outlook for the rest of this week states: "Unsettled conditions are continuing into the weekend with some further wet and windy weather on the way. Very high spring tides will bring an ongoing risk of coastal flooding, even in the absence of heavy rain and strong winds."

They say Saturday will be "mainly dry and bright with sunny spells and well scattered showers, however, cloud will thicken from the southwest later in the afternoon and evening with some rain developing there later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate southwest to south winds.

"Becoming wet and windy with strong and gusty southerly winds and widespread rain [on Saturday night], heavy at times. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.

"While there is some uncertainty in the forecast for Sunday, current indications suggest it will be a windy day with very strong and gusty southwesterly winds and potential for coastal flooding. Rain will clear early in the day with a brief drier spell before showers or longer spells of rain follow for most. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees," they conclude.