Red Status warning looking likely ahead of Storm Brendan

THE weather is set to become very windy or stormy during Monday morning with heavy rain extending eastwards.

A Status Orange wind warning is in place from 5 a.m. tomorrow until midnight due to Storm Brendan.

Storm Brendan will be a powerful wind storm with a red warning looking likely, the Donegal Weather Channel is reporting.

According to Met Éireann, sunny spells and showers will follow from the west during Monday afternoon and evening, some heavy with a risk of hail and thunder.

Near gale to gale force south to southeast winds developing for a time in the morning and early afternoon, with possibly damaging gusts, especially in coastal areas.

Winds veering southwesterly as the heavy rain clears, and decreasing strong to near gale in the east of the province, but gales with potentially damaging gusts will continue further west.

There is a significant risk of coastal flooding due to a combination of strong winds, high spring tides and storm surge.

Showers retreating to western parts of the country on Monday evening, some of them potentially wintry. Becoming dry with clear spells further east.

Southwesterly winds will gradually moderate overland, but they will continue strong and gusty near coasts.

Tuesday will begin with sunny spells over some northern parts of the country with showers, some wintry, in the west will gradually give way to the cloudier skies further south, with rain becoming widespread.

Some sleet in places and some hill snow, especially over parts of the midlands. Very cold over the bulk of the country with afternoon highs of just 2 to 4 degrees, but milder near the south and southeast coast.

Light to moderate southerly winds, fresh to strong on north and northwest coasts, will become mainly light to moderate cyclonic in the afternoon as an area of low pressure moves up from the south, but strong and gusty southwesterly on the southeast coast. Any rain or sleet will clear quickly northwards on Tuesday evening and night leaving clear spells.

A few scattered showers will occur in Atlantic coastal counties overnight, some of them wintry, especially on hills.

Southwest winds will be mostly moderate to fresh at first but they will become gusty overnight, increasing strong to near gale on coasts. Cold and frosty, with lows of zero to 3 degrees, but increasing 3 to 5 degrees by dawn.

Wednesday will be a bright and breezy day in many areas with sunny spells. Scattered showers will occur, however, mainly in the west. Top temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Moderate to fresh southwest winds will back southeasterly in the evening. Another area of low pressure looks likely to sweep up from the south on Wednesday night, delivering another spell of heavy rain, especially in the western areas.

Southeasterly winds will increasing strong and gusty on Munster and Leinster coasts. Lowest temperatures ranging 2 to 5 degrees.

Thursday is looking wet and windy at this stage. Winds mostly moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly veering southwesterly overland, strong to near gale at the coasts.

Rain will be widespread for a time, potentially rather heavy in western counties with a risk of spot flooding there. Daytime highs of 7 to 10 degrees.

Current indications for next Friday and the weekend suggest the changeable Atlantic regime will continue.