HARSH WINTRY WEATHER will persist around the country this week, after much of the east and south of the country – and many of its coastal areas – were lashed by gale force winds last night.

There is a risk of minor localised flooding, meanwhile, in Connacht and the north-west of the country after significant rains expected to fall overnight – with up to two inches of rain expected in some high-lying areas.

The Irish Weather Network said the wet weather would remain this morning, with showers remaining in the afternoon and high winds remaining on the west coast overnight and tomorrow.

“This will clear overnight and it will be a fine start for Wednesday, but more wind and rain sweeping in off the Atlantic later in the day and overnight,” IWN’s forecast said.

The dry weather will give way to heavy rains as the day continues, and overnight on Wednesday night and Thursday morning – while continued low pressure off the coasts will mean heavy showers throughout Friday.

IWN says temperatures will remain mild throughout the week, however, though there may be slight ground frost on Wednesday morning with temperatures having fallen to 7°C overnight.

As of 7am this morning, Met Éireann stations clocked gusts of 43 knots – about 80 kilometres per hour – at Roches Point in Co Cork, and 41 knots (76 kilometres per hour) at Malin Head in Co Donegal.

The station at Teagasc in Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, recorded winds of 39 knots (72 kilometres per hour), as did the station at Cork Airport.
2.4 millimetres of rain had fallen in the hour between 5am and 6am in Mullingar, and 1.4 millimetres at Johnstown Castle.

Last week: Venice flooded as 200 evacuated in Tuscany