12 counties urged to be 'on alert' as wind and rain set to batter parts of Ireland today

Weather warnings remain in place for 12 counties across Ireland today as strong winds and heavy rain are expected to bring flooding, difficult driving conditions and poor visibility.

Experts have urged counties that are prone to flooding to be "on alert" with Carlow Weatherman Alan O'Reilly saying "there is plenty more rain to come".

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A Status Yellow Wind warning is in place for Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Louth until 1pm today. Strong and gusty southeasterly winds combined with high tides may lead to wave overtopping, fallen trees and loose debris and difficult travelling conditions

A Status Yellow Rain warning is in place for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford until 11pm tonight. Rain falling on already saturated ground combined with high river levels will lead to flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.

A Status Yellow  Rain/Snow warning is in place for Donegal until 2pm today. Rain which will be heavy at times and turning to sleet or snow together with strengthening winds will lead to poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.

Met Éireann has said it will continue unsettled this weekend with spells of wet and breezy weather, turning milder than average for the time of year.

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Today

Wet and breezy today with widespread outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, possibly falling as sleet or snow for a time in the northwest. The rain will gradually become confined to the eastern half of the country during the afternoon with scattered showers following to western areas.

The combination of heavy rain and saturated ground, together with strong onshore winds coinciding with high tides, may cause river and coastal flooding. Highest temperatures of just 2 to 5 degrees in the north and northeast, but 6 to 10 degrees elsewhere. There'll be fresh and gusty southeast winds, reaching strong to gale force on northern and eastern coasts.

Mostly cloudy tonight with drier conditions further east and scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain further west. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees generally, perhaps a little milder in the southwest, with light to moderate variable winds, increasing fresh to strong in the southwest.

Thursday

Starting off mostly cloudy. Scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain will move northeastwards across the country with drier and brighter conditions following from the southwest. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees, coolest in the north and mildest in the southwest, with moderate to fresh and occasionally strong northwest winds spreading from the southwest, but staying mainly light to moderate and variable in the northeast.

Becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle Thursday night spreading eastwards across the country. Lows of 2 to 6 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds freshening through the night.

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Friday

A wet start with widespread outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, clearing eastwards through the morning with sunny spells and scattered showers following from the west through the day. Cloud will increase from the southeast through the afternoon with rain following, spreading northeastwards through the evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh, occasionally strong southwesterly winds.

A windy night with outbreaks of rain continuing to spread northeastwards. Drier conditions will follow into southern parts. Milder than recent nights with lowest temperatures not falling below 7 to 10 degrees in fresh to strong southwest winds.

Saturday

A breezy day, current indications are that outbreaks of rain and drizzle will become patchier as they clear northwards through the day, with scattered showers following. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees, milder further south, with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Further outbreaks of rain and drizzle Saturday night spreading across the country. Mild with lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Sunday

A mix of sunny spells and scattered showers spreading from the west through the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind.