The end of Storm Alex will be felt across the country into the weekend as the tropical cyclone makes its way over the Atlantic.
Experts reassured the public that the eye of the storm and the worst effects associated with that will remain out at sea, with just the ‘remnants’ of it being felt here, according to Met Eireann's Siobhan Ryan.
Although some heavy showers and strong winds will make land from Friday, there will be a welcome and sunny change in conditions on Sunday before things take yet another grim turn next week.
It will be a wet start for many this morning with rain and drizzle spreading northeastwards to all areas as the day goes on. Drier and brighter spells will be seen in the southwest of the country from around midday, but isolated showers will extend across the country by the afternoon.
There will be moderate to fresh southeast winds veering southwest as the rain clears, and winds will be strong at times along coasts.
Friday will bring widespread showers - some turning heavy throughout the day - once again with breezy conditions expected. Some areas more inland will see bright and sunny intervals while fresh and gusty southwest winds are due to arrive from the coasts, with winds strongest in the west.
Then on Saturday, the forecast of widespread showers - some heavy - remains in place, and will be most prominent across the west and north where they may merge into longer spells of rain.
Highest temperatures will range from 15 to 18 degrees and it’ll continue to be breezy again with fresh southwest winds, which are due to be strong at times in coastal areas.
Sunday will see a big change in overall conditions, with showers easing to light and being “more scattered than previous days”, the Irish forecast says.
As well as this, a good deal of good dry and sunny spells will be seen in between with highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in a moderate, occasionally fresh, westerly breeze.
This will continue overnight with conditions remaining dry with just a few showers in western areas, and lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with winds easing light.
However, that change doesn’t last long, and from Monday things begin to dip once again. It’s expected to be a cloudy start to the week with well-scattered showers.
Highest temperatures will reach 17 degrees with a moderate southwest breeze, but there will be a “more persistent spell of rain” moving into the northwest later in the day.
As for the rest of next week, at this point Met Eireann says: “Remaining unsettled with a spell of rain expected to move in from the Atlantic.”
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