Storm Floris: Bank holiday weekend to see 'unseasonably windy weather'

Eva Osborne

Weather warnings will be issued on Saturday ahead of Storm Floris, with Met Éireann saying there will be "unseasonably windy weather".

Storm Floris will bring wet and windy weather during Sunday night and Bank Holiday Monday.

Potential impacts include:

• Dangerous travelling conditions;
• Knock on impacts for outdoor events;
• Structural damage;
• Fallen trees, debris and loose objects;
• Power outages;
• Wave overtopping;
• Localised flooding due to leaves.

Met Éireann forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said: “Storm Floris will bring a spell of wet and unseasonably windy weather, particularly for northwestern areas, through Sunday night and into Monday.

"However, there is still some uncertainty in the details so the full impacts of the system cannot yet be determined. By Saturday though, the event will be within the range of our high-resolution DINI forecasting model and warnings will be issued.”

"However, as this is a Public Holiday Weekend with a large number of outdoor events and with many people going camping, etc, and with an increased usage of temporary structures such as tents, more people will be at a greater risk of exposure than would normally be the case.

"And while we are in a period of neap tides, with lowest tidal ranges of this cycle expected on Sunday and Monday, strong onshore winds and high waves may cause wave overtopping in low-lying coastal areas in the northwest and west.

"Our advice would be to pay attention to the weather forecasts and warnings issued over the weekend and take them into consideration with any plans you have. And as always, please heed the advice of local authorities.”

Saturday and Sunday

Before the storm hits, Saturday will see most of the eastern half of the country stay fully dry with warm spells of sunshine.

It will become cloudier elsewhere though with some rain and drizzle slowly developing, mainly in west and northwest areas. The odd heavy burst may occur later.

Highest temperatures will range from 17 to 23 degrees in a light to moderate southwest breeze.

Saturday night will be cloudy with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle at first. More persistent rain will develop in the west and spread across the country through the night.

There will be some clear spells and scattered showers will follow in the north and west by morning.

Then on Sunday morning, cloud and rain will clear from the southeast and for the rest of the day there will be a good amount of dry and bright weather, with just a few showers in the northwest.

Cloud will slowly build from the southwest through the evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees with a moderate to fresh westerly wind, easing later.