'Strongest winds of the winter' - Storm Éowyn could batter Ireland

Met Éireann's official storm forecasting partner has put the public on alert for a big Atlantic storm. 

The UK Met Office has warned that 250 km jet stream winds look set to drive a deepening low-pressure system over Ireland and Britain next weekend caused by Storm Éowyn. 

"A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far. 

"This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely. Keep up to date with the forecast," said the Met Office in a post on X.

Met Éireann, expects very unsettled weather with strong winds to develop on Friday with potential for heavy rainfall. The national outlook from the Irish forecaster says outbreaks of rain at times can be expected early this week but there'll be a good deal of dry weather overall. However, it expects colder conditions from Tuesday night with more unsettled conditions developing on Thursday.

Met Éireann and the Met Office jointly forecast and name storms with their Dutch counterparts. The next named storm is Éowyn. MORE from MET Éireann BELOW X POST FROM THE MET OFFICE.

Met Éireann says the main impacts will start to be felt overnight on Thursday and through Friday, with some potentially lasting longer:

• Dangerous travelling conditions
• Displaced objects
• Fallen trees
• Power outages
• Poor visibility in any sleet or snow
• Surface water flooding, as the ground is saturated countrywide
• Localised river flooding, in view of the rainfall totals expected over the weekend
• High seas: wave overtopping at high tide due to strong on-shore winds.

 Met Éireann national Forecast issued at 12.12pm on Tuesday, January 21.

Tuesday: Any lingering mist and fog will clear to leave a dry day for many with a mix of cloud and sunny spells and just well scattered showers, mainly affecting northwest areas. Cool with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in a light southwest or variable breeze.

The night will generally dry and calm with just isolated showers. Cold however with areas of mist and fog - some dense pockets possible. Frost and icy patches developing too, where skies remain clear. Lowest temperatures of -2 to 2 degrees.

Wednesday: Overnight mist and fog will clear Wednesday morning, possibly lingering though across eastern and northern areas for a time though. Most areas will be dry with sunny spells and just well scattered showers. Cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in just light west southwest winds.

Dry for most at first with clear spells and well scattered showers. Cloud will build from the west overnight with showery outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards. Becoming breezier with winds increasing moderate southwesterly. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees.

Thursday: Wet on Thursday morning with rain becoming widespread. The rain will clear to scattered showers and sunny spells in the afternoon, with the chance of hail. The showers will become isolated through the evening with cloud building from the southwest. Blustery in moderate to fresh westerly winds and highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Current indications suggest conditions will turn wet and windy Thursday night. Southerly winds will become very strong and gusty as rain spreads from the southwest becoming widespread overnight. The rain, heavy at first, will possibly turn to sleet or snow locally. Cold initially with lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees but temperatures turning very mild from the south through the night.

Friday: There is some uncertainty in the forecast for Friday but it is expected to be a very windy day with near gale force westerly winds developing, potentially reaching gale force in places. The rain will clear to sunshine and showers through the day, some of which may turn wintry. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Further wintry showers are possible Friday night, mainly over the north and west. Drier and clearer conditions further east. Southwest winds will ease moderate to fresh overnight with lowest temperatures of degrees 0 to 3 degrees.

Weekend: Remaining very unsettled at the weekend with strong winds and the potential for further heavy rainfall.