Mayo county finals may escape worst of weekend weather

AN orange level warning continues in operation for southern and western coastal counties as winds are expected to reach storm force there, according to Met. Eireann.

Rain will continue to turn more showery from the southwest, but the showers look likely to merge into longer spells of rain in the west by dawn. Lowest temperatures will stay around 9 to 12 degrees.

Tomorrow the centre of Storm Brian will track into the Irish Sea with moderate winds for a time over Ulster and North Leinster but very windy elsewhere with storm force west to northwest winds along southwestern coasts - especially during the morning.

Showers or longer spells of rain, with a risk of thundery downpours, will continue to feed in across the country. Top temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.

Showers will become mostly confined to western and northern coasts on Saturday night and a lot of areas will be dry. Strong northwesterly winds will gradually ease overnight and become westerly in direction. Lowest temperatures overnight will be 7 or 8 degrees.

There'll be sunny spells and scattered showers for much of Sunday and hopefully it won't be too bad for the two Mayo county GAA finals in Castlebar at 1.30 p.m. (intermediate, Kiltimagh v Moy Davitts) and 3.30 (senior, Castlebar Mitchels v Ballintubber).

But later in the day a spell of persistent rain will sweep through the country, turning heavy for a time.

Temperatures will be between 12 and 14 degrees and moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest winds will back southwest to south. Sunday night will become mostly dry as the last of the showery rain clears eastwards.

Any lingering rain will clear on Monday morning and there'll be scattered showers, mostly on coasts. Temperatures will range between 14 degrees in the north to 17 degrees on the south coast and winds will be moderate southerly, veering southwesterly with the clearing rain.

Continuing unsettled for Tuesday with another spell of rain and moderate to fresh southwest winds.

Winds remain mostly southwesterly or variable through the extended outlook period also with further spells of rain at times.