Met Eireann has issued a four day Easter weather warning with risks of strong winds, heavy rain and possible Storm Dave.
Motorists travel through rain and spray on a motorway (file photo)(Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Ireland could be on course for its next named storm as forecasters track a series of developing Atlantic systems that may bring days of damaging winds, heavy rain and potential coastal flooding over the Easter weekend.
Met Eireann has taken the unusual step of issuing a nationwide four day weather advisory, spanning the entire bank holiday weekend, from Friday through to Monday.
While exact details are uncertain at this stage, early indications suggest conditions could turn increasingly unsettled, with the risk of strong to severe gusts and spells of torrential rain, particularly later in the weekend.
The national forecaster warned: “It will be unsettled and mixed over Easter with a mobile Atlantic flow affecting Ireland. Windy or possibly stormy in places later Saturday. Warnings are likely to be issued.”
Met Eireann also outlined a number of potential impacts it is closely monitoring:
Potential for some severe or damaging west to southwest gusts.Coastal flooding is likely, especially around high tide times and in exposed, low-lying locations along the Atlantic coastal counties.High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge and persistent onshore winds will further increase the risk of coastal flooding. Areas along the west and north coasts are particularly vulnerable.Strong onshore winds combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas.
If conditions intensify as some forecast models suggest, the system could be officially named Storm Dave, marking Ireland’s fourth named storm of the season.
Storms are typically named when orange or red warnings are issued for medium to high impact weather, such as strong winds, heavy rain or snow. So far this season, Ireland has experienced Storm Amy, Storm Bram and Storm Chandra.
Giving more details about what weather Ireland can expect this Easter weekend, the national forecaster said: “Friday (Good Friday) will likely be a windy day with fresh to strong west to southwest winds developing, bringing a chance of wave overtopping to western and northwestern coasts. Quite damp too, with outbreaks of rain and showers, and highest temperatures of 10C to 14C .
“Some clear spells Friday night and showers at first will give way to cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle extending from the southwest through the night. Lowest temperatures of 1C to 4C in the north and 4C to 7C in the south, all in mostly light south to southwest breezes.
“Likely becoming a wet and windy Saturday with strong and gusty southerly winds developing, alongside outbreaks of rain that will be heavy at times. Highest temperatures of 10C to 14C.
“For Sunday (Easter Sunday) current indications show a cool and breezy day with sunny spells and showers, some of which could be heavy. Highest temperatures of 7C to 11C with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.
“There is uncertainty in the forecast, with current indications showing another spell of wet and windy weather on Monday.”
Want to see more from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.