Ireland weather: Met Eireann forecast big change over Bank Holiday as ominous Atlantic system hits

Conditions are set to turn

Met Eireann have forecast a big change this Bank Holiday weekend as some miserable and unsettled weather is set to hit Ireland.

Conditions are set to turn with rain, wind and even flooding possible in the coming days.

Friday will bring some sunny spells to start with before outbreaks of rain and gale force winds move in from the Atlantic.

And the rest of the weekend could see a risk of localised flooding in the southwest with heavy falls of rain expected.

A Met Eireann forecaster said: "There'll be some bright or sunny spells today but a good deal of cloud overall. Scattered showers will feed eastwards across the country in a moderate westerly breeze, the showers most frequent across the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures ranging 11 to 14 degrees.

"Showers will largely die out early tonight to leave most areas dry. However, later in the night outbreaks of rain will move in from the Atlantic to affect west Connacht and northwest Ulster.

"Lowest temperatures of around 6 to 10 degrees with southerly breezes increasing fresh overnight and gales will develop on Atlantic coasts.

"On Saturday morning, rain will spread across most of the western half of the country, turning heavy in the southwest. Elsewhere, there'll be scattered light showers. During the afternoon and evening, rain will extend eastwards to all areas with further heavy falls possible in the southwest bringing a risk of localised flooding there. Mild and windy with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in strong and gusty southerly winds.

"A wet start on Saturday night with outbreaks of rain. There'll be further heavy falls in places with a risk of some localised flooding. Rain will clear eastwards into the Irish Sea later in the night with scattered showers following from the west. A mild night with lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in fresh southwest winds.

"Bright spells and showers on Sunday. The showers will be frequent across the west and north of the country with some heavy downpours possible. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees in fresh and gusty southwest winds. On Sunday night, showers will become largely confined to Atlantic coastal counties with good clear spells developing elsewhere. A cooler night with lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds."

And next week looks set to continue wet and unsettled with plenty of showers, although there is some hope for Bank Holiday Monday with some spells of sunshine in the east of the country.

A forecaster added: "Monday looks set to be a fresh day with sunny spells and scattered showers. The best of the sunshine across the east and south of the country with the showers most frequent in the west and north. Maximum temperatures ranging 10 to 13 degrees in fresh and gusty southwest winds.

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"Early on Monday night, rain will develop in the southwest, extending nationwide overnight. Lowest temperatures of around 7 to 10 degrees, occurring early in the night. It will turn milder overnight in strengthening southwest winds.

"Persistent rain will clear from the northeast of the country early on Tuesday. It will then be a very mild day with scattered patches of rain or drizzle. It will be mostly cloudy but a few bright or sunny spells are possible in the east. There'll be mist and fog on hills and some coasts. Highs of 13 to 16 degrees in fresh to strong southwest winds. During Tuesday evening, persistent rain will spread across much of the west and north of Ireland, extending south to most areas on Tuesday night. Minimum temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees, coolest in Ulster.

"Outbreaks of rain on Wednesday, most persistent in the southwest, west and north."