National: Met Éireann upgrades rain warning to Status Orange for two counties

Met Éireann has updated it's wet weather warning to Status Orange for Cork and Kerry, with an unsettled week predicted for the rest of the country. 

There will be spells of heavy rain at times in those two counties, in particular.

The rain will be accompanied by strong onshore winds and high tides.

Potential Impacts include wave overtopping and localised flooding. 

A small crafts warning is also in place for the entire country. South to southwest winds will reach force 6 or higher, the national forecaster has warned.

According to Met Eireann, conditions will remain unsettled for the rest of the week with rain or showers but there may be another big change on the cards for St Patrick's Day.

Tuesday is set to be a mostly cloudy and damp day overall, starting off mainly dry with just scattered outbreaks of rain or drizzle and mist.

However, the rain will turn more persistent and heavy at times in the southwest and west as we move through the day. It will be breezy with a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind, strong in the west and southwest. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees. Coastal flooding is possible due to unusually high tides.

A band of more persistent rain will move into the west and northwest early tonight and will move southeastwards overnight, becoming lighter and patchier. It will become dry with some clear spells in the northwest towards morning. Breezy with a moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly wind. Mild for much of the night with lowest temperatures of generally 7 to 11 degrees, becoming cooler towards morning in the northwest where temperatures will fall to 4 degrees locally.

According to Met Eireann, on Wednesday, the rain will gradually clear the northern half of the country through the morning and most areas will become dry for a time in the afternoon. It will be more of a dull and damp day further south where rain and drizzle will continue. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with a mostly light to moderate southwest to west wind, increasing fresh at times along northern and southern coasts. Again, coastal flooding is possible due to unusually high tides.

Rain will spread northwards over the country on Wednesday night. Lowest temperatures ranging between 4 degrees in the north to 10 degrees in the south, with light to moderate easterly or southerly winds.

According to Met Eireann, Thursday will be mostly cloudy and unsettled with rain or showers continuing to feed in from the southwest on Thursday. A few brighter intervals may develop, the best of which will be later in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees with a light to moderate southerly wind.

Staying mostly cloudy with further rain or showers through the night. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees with a light to moderate southerly wind veering northerly.

According to the latest met Eireann weather forecast for Ireland, it will be mostly cloudy with rain or showers on Friday morning but possibly becoming drier and brighter with some sunny periods later in the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees with light to moderate west to northwest winds.

Starting off mostly dry and clear Friday night before cloud builds from the southwest followed closely by rain that will spread northeastwards through the night. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with light variable winds.

According to Met Eireann, Saturday will be a wet day with rain or showers, becoming drier and clearer towards the evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 13 degrees with a light southerly wind.

In a brighter outlook for St Patrick's Day, Met Éireann says that current indications suggest conditions it may turn drier and clearer for St. Patrick's Day with some sunny spells and scattered showers.