Storm Geraldine not given storm status in Ireland

French weather forecasters have given storm status to a weather system sweeping across Ireland.

Meto France named the weather system Storm Geraldine because of its impact.

They expect it to bring 120km winds to Brittany. 

Met Eireann has not upgraded the weather front to storm status.

It says Sunday, December 31 will be windy with bright spells and blustery showers, some with hail and lightning. It will be very windy for a time in the southwest and west.

It says the showers will become largely confined to the northern half of the country by late evening. Feeling rather cold in the strong west to northwest breeze with maximum temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees generally.

The showers will continue overnight, mainly for Atlantic counties with some prolonged showers possible in the northwest, bringing the chance of hail and thunder. Met Eireann says some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

New Year's Day will feature sunny spells and scattered showers at first, becoming more isolated through the morning and early afternoon.

Met Eireann also says cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over Munster, south Leinster and much of Connacht by night-fall. It says highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and increasing moderate to fresh with the rain.

Monday evening and night will feature outbreaks of rain will spread northwards to remaining areas by early in the night, turning a bit wintry over parts of Connacht and Ulster, especially on the hills. A clearance will follow overnight with clearing skies and scattered showers, mostly in Atlantic areas. Lowest temperatures over the northern half of the country of 0 to 3 degrees, milder further south.

Met Eireann partners on storm forecasting with weather services in the UK and the Netherlands.