Status Yellow Wind Warning in place for Meath with 80km gusts expected with thundery downpours

A Status Yellow Wind warning is in place for much of the northern half of the country.

Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Clare and all Connacht are affected.

It is expected later this morning and through the afternoon, westerly winds will reach mean wind speeds of 50 to 60km/h, with gusts of 80 to 100km/h associated with any thundery downpours. Some disruption may occur.

Today's wind warning follows days of unseasonal conditions and wet weather.

Met Eireann says it will stay mainly dry tonight with just a passing shower and clear spells. Lows of 10 to 12 degrees. Gusty west to northwest winds will gradually moderate.

Monday will be mainly dry tomorrow with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees, warmest in the southeast, in moderate northwest breezes.

MET EIREANN NATIONAL OUTLOOK

Monday Night: Most areas will be dry on Monday night with clear spells at first and just a few light showers near western and northwestern coasts. Cloud will thicken from the Atlantic later in the night with outbreaks of rain pushing into Atlantic coastal counties towards morning. Lows of 9 to 11 degrees, in light westerly breezes.

Tuesday: Generally cloudy on Tuesday with outbreaks of rain becoming widespread by the afternoon. However it does look like the rain will become patchier by the evening, with parts of north Ulster becoming dry. Highest temperatures 13 to 17 degrees in mainly light southerly breezes. Becoming mainly dry on Tuesday night with just some patchy light rain in southern areas. Clear spells will develop elsewhere. Lows of 7 to 12 degrees with moderate westerly winds veering northerly and easing.

Wednesday: Current indications are for a lot of dry weather over Ulster, Connacht and north Leinster with sunny spells. Cloudier further south with outbreaks of rain. Highs of 16 to 18 degrees generally, in light variable breezes. Rain continuing in southern counties overnight but dry elsewhere with clear spells. Lows of 7 to 11 degrees in light breezes.

Further Outlook: There is significant uncertainty in the further outlook at this stage, but the overall pattern appears to maintain a changeable Atlantic regime.