Gale force winds expected as Met Éireann issues alert over storm

Gale force winds have been forecast along the west coast today and tomorrow, with conditions set to stay blustery until the weekend.

Met Éireann has issued an orange weather warning this morning, which is a step up from the yellow status in that it warns people to be prepared for the impact which the conditions might have on them.

Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo could see winds of up to 130km per hour, with stormy conditions likely to develop overnight and into Wednesday.

Clare County Council have issued their own warning indicating that coastal parts of Co Clare are at a high risk of flooding over the next 48 hours.

They warn that high waves and tidal surges pose a risk of flooding, particularly at high tide in areas which have been prone to it in the past.

Rain is also expected to move in from the Atlantic on Wednesday, with snow falling on high ground and bitterly cold conditions at night.

The warning is in place until Thursday, but conditions are set to stay blustery until the weekend with temperatures dropping to between 1 and 4 degrees at night.

In the UK the Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning of severe gales, unusually high waves and a risk of flooding in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In Northern Ireland there is snow forecast on hills and heavy rain towards the weekend.

Snow and ice caused severe disruptions in northern Scotland over the weekend as low pressure moved across the north Atlantic to Iceland.