A Status Orange warning has been issued for Kerry and west Cork, as Storm Gerrit is set to hit the country tonight.
Met Éireann said that very heavy rain, followed by heavy showers tomorrow, may lead to localised flooding.
A Status Orange rainfall warning will be in place from 8pm tonight until midnight on Thursday for Kerry and west Cork.
A separate Status Yellow wind and rain warning will be in effect for the rest of the country for the same period.
There will be strong southerly winds overnight, which will veer southwesterly tomorrow.
These, in conjunction with spring tides, could result in coastal flooding.
#StormGerrit has been named by the UK Met office.
⚠️A yellow wind and rainfall warning is in place for Ireland⚠️
Details➡️https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/TY3RjP0JPf— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 26, 2023
Overall, it will be wet and very windy tonight with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, in strong to gale force southeast winds, with surface flooding likely.
The rain could turn to sleet on mountains in north Ulster.
It will be cold at first with temperatures of one to four degrees, rising to seven to ten degrees by dawn tomorrow.
The Road Safety Authority has urged road users to exercise caution while the warnings are in place.
Sandbags deployed in Cork ahead of storm
Cork County Council said its crews have been deployed to check and clear inlets and gullies while sandbags and pumping arrangements will be in place in areas prone to flooding.
The council’s severe weather assessment team met this afternoon to finalise arrangements in advance of the storm.
The local authority advised road users to exercise extreme caution as driving conditions may be hazardous with surface flooding possible or fallen trees and branches.
Motorists should avoid driving through flowing or standing water and to exercise caution during heavy.
Property owners in low-lying areas or those susceptible to flooding are advised to take precautions.
The council said it will provide updates on its website and social media channels.
Significant snowfall forecast for Scotland
The UK Met Office has issued a Yellow wind and rain warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry from 2am until 10am tomorrow, with wet and windy weather likely to cause some disruption.
Meteorologist Simon Partridge said wet and windy weather will cover “pretty much the whole of the UK”, with significant snowfall in parts of Scotland.
A yellow rain and snow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm across much of Scotland tomorrow.
“There are wind warnings out for the south of England, across the English Channel coast,” Mr Partridge added.
“But we also have wind warnings in force for parts of western Wales, north-west England, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland and the Northern Isles.”
Wind warning areas can expect gusts of 50-60mph, with up to 70mph on high ground and exposed coasts.
“In terms of rain, we have rain warnings out for the whole of Northern Ireland, western Wales, north-west England, and then there’s a combined sort of rain and snow warning for Scotland,” Mr Partridge said.
Rain in the warning areas is forecast to be between 40-60mm, with the potential for 70-90mm in the western hills of Wales and the western side of the Pennines.
Anywhere above 200 metres in Scotland and the Northern Isles is likely to see some snow, he added.
Additional reporting PA
