'Violent' Storm Gerrit could bring snow - Met Éireann Warnings UPDATE

Storm Gerrit will bring violent gusty winds, thunderstorms and flooding as it sweeps across Ireland according to the latest Met Éireann forecast.

The forecaster has issued Status Orange and Yellow alerts for Wednesday and Thursday, December 27 and 28 as Gerrit sweeps across the country.

Met Éireann expects parts of the country to experience storm force winds with violent gusts early Thursday evening. As night follows stronger gusts are expected particularly around showers. Spring and high tides mean coastal flooding risks.

Some heavy showers could include embedded thunderstorms causing localised flooding. It will be cold also with temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees.

Thursday will be windy tomorrow too with sunny spells and showers, most frequent across Connacht and Ulster, possibly turning to sleet and snow there.

A Status Orange wind alert for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford warns that strong and very gusty westerly winds to reach storm or near storm force for a time Wednesday evening. 

Met Éireann says power outages and severe disruption is likely and there will be dangerous travelling conditions. Coastal flooding is also likely.

The alert is valid from 5.01pm Wednesday to 00:00 Thursday.

Meanwhile, Met Éireann says a Status Yellow wind and rain warning for Ireland covers the rest of the country. It warns of very strong and gusty southwesterly winds in conjunction with spring tides that may lead to coastal flooding. it says the squally showers, with a chance of thunderstorms, may lead to localised flooding.

It is valid from to midnight Thursday. MORE BELOW FORECAST.

National Forecast issued at December 27 3:49pm

Wednesday: Squally showers with isolated thunderstorms, hail and localised flooding this evening. Increasingly windy as strong to gale force westerly winds move across the country. South Kerry and West Cork will experience storm force winds with violent gusts for a time in the early evening.

The night will continue very windy with stronger gusts, particularly around showers. Due to a combination of spring and high tides, coastal flooding likely in the west and southwest. Further scattered heavy showers, possibly embedded thunderstorms and localised flooding. Less windy across Ulster and the northwest however with winds easing down for a time in other areas later too. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees.

Thursday: Windy tomorrow too with sunny spells and showers, most frequent across Connacht and Ulster, possibly turning to sleet and snow there. Thunderstorms are possible in the northwest. Fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds with gales at times on Atlantic coasts will lead to a continued chance of coastal flooding. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees.

Cold with clear spells and scattered blustery showers with potential for some hail or sleet on the hills of the North and the Northwest at night. Some frost or ice too for sheltered areas. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees in a fresh and gusty west to southwest wind.

FRIDAY: Sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, some wintry, mainly over higher ground of the North and the West. Highest temperatures of just 4 to 7 degrees with an added wind chill factor. Some uncertainty later this week, but current indications suggest low pressure will feed in some very wet and windy weather overnight with the potential of some wintry falls for a time across the North and the West

SATURDAY: Windy or very windy with sunny spells and wintry showers, especially across the North and the West. Highest temperatures afternoon temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees, in a very strong and gusty southwest wind. Winds will gradually moderate overnight with some frost and ice in parts later.

SUNDAY: A calmer day with sunny spells and well scattered showers, some wintry locally to begin. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.