Met Éireann warnings likely as unusual and 'nasty' storm bears down on Ireland

It is possible a storm could be named by weather chiefs at Met Éireann before making landfall in Ireland on Saturday, weather models suggest.

The country looks set to endure a brutal weekend of weather with storm force winds and rain sweeping over the country on Saturday before more unsettled weather on Sunday.

Forecaster Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather suggests the weather system responsible could be named by Met Éireann in the coming hours as he predicted some strong winds.

He said: "The UK Met Office have issued some wind warnings for tomorrow but still none from Met Éireann at 10:45am Friday. Possibly trying to decide if to name the storm or not? A risk of some very strong winds tomorrow either way. Stay up to date as I expect they will issue warnings."

He added: "Latest weather models showing a risk of damaging winds in the Northwest tomorrow [Saturday] as nasty little low system hits. Likely to see warnings issued. A very windy day across the country Saturday and also some heavy rain in Northern areas."

The only warning so far issued by Met Éireann is a Status Yellow gale warning from Mizen Head to Erris Head to Belfast Lough from 5am Saturday to 2am on Sunday.

"Westerly winds will increase to gale force 8 or higher," Met Éireann warned.

In their general outlook for Saturday, Met Éireann said: "Becoming very windy on Saturday. On Saturday morning, rain will continue to push northeastwards over Ireland, becoming confined to north Ulster by the afternoon. Sunny spells and blustery showers will follow across the rest of the country, some of the showers will be heavy and with hail.

"Showers may merge to give longer spells of rain, especially across the northern half of the country. Maximum temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in strong and gusty southwest winds, which will veer westerly during the day, reaching gale force at the coast.

"Winds will gradually ease on Saturday night as showers become isolated and mostly restricted to north Ulster. However, later in the night, a further spell of rain will push in across Munster and Connacht, extending across the rest of the country by dawn on Sunday. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees with fresh and gusty westerly winds, backing southerly and moderating."