Yellow wind warning for six counties on Thursday afternoon

Ellen O'Donoghue

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for six counties on the west coast from tomorrow afternoon.

It will affect Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal and will start at 1pm on Thursday, running until 9pm.

Met Éireann has warned of the potential for difficult travelling conditions, falling branches and localised debris.

The British Met Office has issued a similar alert for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, which will start at 3pm tomorrow and stay in place until 6am on Friday.

Nationally however, early tonight, rain should clear eastwards with clear spells and well scattered showers following but may areas are expected to become dry. Fresh to strong southerly winds will become westerly as rain clears and will ease overnight, with lowest temperatures of five to nine degrees, slightly higher in the southwest.

On Thursday, rain will spread eastward across the country and should gradually clear during the afternoon with scattered showers following.

Moderate southerly winds will become northwesterly as rain clears, and will increase fresh to strong and very gusty, reaching gale force at times near west and north costs in the late afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of eight to 13 degrees are expected.