County braces itself for Storm Amy

Weather update from Met Éireann

A number of weather warnings have been issued ahead of Storm Amy hitting Ireland over the next few hours.

Cavan will come under a status yellow wind warning from 12 noon today until midnight tonight - the entire country is covered by that warning.

Neighbouring County Leitrim, meanwhile, will come under a status orange wind warning from 2pm until 10pm - along with counties Sligo, Donegan, Galway, Mayo and Clare.

Met Éireann is warning of "near gale force to gale force winds".

Motorists are being urged to look out for fallen trees and to expect difficult travelling conditions.

Meanwhile, the public is advised to look out for damage to power lines and possible power outages.

The national weather forecaster has said it will remain windy overnight with widespread heavy showers or longer spells of rain.

Saturday will be wet and windy with strong and gusty westerly winds. A band of heavy showery rain will move down from the north across the country. The afternoon will gradually become drier with just well scattered showers and some sunny spells developing at times too. Cooler with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees.

Cloudy with isolated showers overnight on Saturday, most frequent in the north. Dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light to moderate westerly winds.

Generally cloudy and blustery on Sunday with well scattered light showers. More persistent rain will push in along northwestern and northern coastal counties through the evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees. Moderate occasionally fresh west to southwest winds.

Cloudy with isolated showers overnight on Sunday, mostly confined to the north and northwest. Dry elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees. Moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, strong along western Atlantic coasts.

Mostly cloudy on Monday with outbreaks of rain in Atlantic coastal counties spreading eastwards during the afternoon and evening. Some brighter intervals for southern counties though, where it will remain largely dry. Feeling milder again with highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, strong near the Atlantic coasts.

Tuesday will bring a showery band of rain, persistent at times, with heavy falls in the west and southwest. Highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees. Moderate to fresh southerly winds, strong along west Atlantic coasts.

Dry and bright for most on Wednesday with cloudier conditions to start in the south and southeast. Scattered showers will develop throughout the day, driest in the east. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. Mostly moderate northwesterly winds.