Yellow weather warnings issued as Storm Goretti approaches Ireland

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Yellow weather warnings have been issued for the south of the country as Storm Goretti approaches Ireland.

Met Eireann have said yellow snow and rain warnings for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford are expected to be in place from Thursday afternoon.

They have said there could be heavy rain which will turn to sleet and snow in some places, particularly on high ground.

The alert was issued on Wednesday morning and will be in place from midday to 8pm on Thursday.

There are also small craft warnings in place for Carnsore Point to Dungarvan to Mizen Head and for Carlingford Lough to Dungarvan to Erris Head.

It will be mostly cloudy on Wednesday, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west and south, gradually edging northeastwards as the day goes on.

A few bright breaks are possible in eastern parts this morning and early afternoon and in the west and southwest towards evening. Cold with afternoon highs of only 2 to 4 degrees generally, but up to between 5 and 8 degrees in west Connacht and parts of Munster.

Light to moderate westerly winds, will back southerly but increasing strong and gusty northwesterly along Atlantic coasts later.

Thickening cloud along with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue to push up over much of the country from the south and southwest on Thursday morning, though parts Ulster will remain largely dry with just a few showers near the west coast.

The rain will turn heavy at times near the south coast, potentially turning to sleet and snow over parts of Munster and south Leinster in the afternoon, before clearing eastwards through the late afternoon and evening.

Afternoon highs of 2 to 5 degrees with light variable winds becoming light to moderate northerly in the afternoon, fresh to strong and gusty near the south coast.

Storm Goretti was named by France’s forecaster, Meteo France.

The storm is expected to bring heavy snow and strong winds later in the week across England and Wales.

With the UK’s Met Office saying some areas could see up to 20cm of snow and that the wind is expected to bring disruption in south-west England.

It comes after temperatures dipped over the last week and yellow ice warnings are in place in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.