MET EIREANN has issued a status orange warning, the national forecaster’s second highest, as Storm Fionn makes its way towards Ireland from the Atlantic Ocean.
Gale force gusts and widespread snow showers are expected to reach eight counties in the country tonight.
Gusts of up to 120km/hr will hit the following counties, threatening flooding near coasts: Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. The alert came into force this afternoon and remains in place until 3 am on Wednesday.
The forecaster said for tonight: “This evening and early tonight will be very windy in western coastal counties with gusts of up to 120 km/h and a risk of coastal flooding. Wintry showers will continue tonight but they will become less frequent later. Lowest temperatures between -1 and +2 degrees in fresh to strong westerly winds.”
A less severe status yellow alert for wind is also in place for all of Leinster as well as counties Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, while a status yellow snow-ice warning is in place for the entire country.
A forecaster said: "Snow showers will affect Ulster and Connacht tonight and will extend to most other areas late in the night and during Tuesday morning.
"Some accumulations of snow are likely, especially in northern and western areas and over hills elsewhere, along with some slippery conditions."
Both of these status yellow warnings are in place until 3 am on Wednesday.
This comes as an area of low pressure edges in from the Arctic.
As it shifts eastwards, it'll drag in colder winds, push temperatures down and blast Ireland with wintry showers.
Met Eireann has officially named the weather front Storm Fionn.
The UK announced their own weather warnings as the storm is set to strike there this evening too.
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