LAST UPDATE | 17 Feb 2021

STATUS YELLOW WIND warnings will come into effect tonight for three coastal counties in the south-east.

The warnings are in place for Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford from 11pm tonight, and will last until 5pm on Thursday evening.

Southerly winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 60km/h, with gusts of 80 to 100km/h, which will be highest in coastal areas. There is a risk of coastal flooding at high tide, if winds are onshore.

Heavy rain is expected to move up from the south tonight, with a risk of spot flooding. The rain will turn to sleet in the western half of the country, with it falling as snow on higher ground.

Tomorrow morning, the rain will clear over the northeast with sunny spells and some blustery showers. Some of the showers will have hail, but are likely to die out over the afternoon.

Temperatures are expected to be between six and eight degrees during the day.

A Status Yellow rainfall warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford will kick in at 9pm tomorrow and will remain in place until 4pm on Friday. 

Met Éireann has warned that heavy rain tomorrow night and Friday may cause some river flooding and localised surface flooding. Rainfall totals of 30 to 40mm are expected. 

Another Status Yellow wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford also kicks in at 9pm tomorrow and will remain in place until 4pm on Friday. 

The forecaster said there will be strong southerly winds tomorrow night and Friday with mean speeds of 50 to 60km/h and gusts of 80 to 100km/h.

A Status Yellow gale warning is also in place from tonight to tomorrow morning on Irish coastal waters from Fair Head to Howth Head to Mizen Head, with southerly winds expected to reach gale force eight to strong gale force nine.

A small craft warning was also issued earlier this afternoon, with southwesterly winds reaching force six or seven on coasts from Erris Head to Rossan Point to Malin Head.

Westerly winds will also reach force six or seven and occasionally gale force eight on tomorrow morning on coasts running from Malin Head to Loop Head to Valentia. Later tomorrow, the warning will extend to all coasts.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin