Snow, strong winds and heavy rain on the way as five counties brace for weather warnings

Five counties across Ireland are bracing for heavy rains, cold winds and possible sleet and snow as a Status Yellow Warning will come into effect from 5pm tonight until midnight.

Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo are facing potential disruptions such as fallen trees and branches, difficult travel conditions, large coastal waves and potentially damaging gusts as winds will get increasingly strong.

Carlow Weatherman Alan O'Reilly has warned that heavy rains will return followed by very cold, wintry showers on Wednesday morning.

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The rain has returned in Ireland with more heavy rain to fall today and wind increasing to strong gusts by evening. Meanwhile lightning strikes are hitting parts of the Canaries. pic.twitter.com/7dAPNCZEXe

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) March 24, 2026

Meanwhile, Met Éireann has warned of mixed conditions to end the week with rain on Thursday and Thursday night giving way to brighter, showery conditions on Friday and Saturday. Isolated wintry showers are also possible.

Today

Quite a wet and blustery start today with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times with a chance of spot flooding in western areas. Sunny spells will develop later this afternoon, but heavy showers will continue to spread from the west, with a chance of hail or isolated thunderstorms.

Moderate to fresh southwest winds at first but it will become windier through the day with fresh to strong westerly winds developing and severe gusts in western coastal areas later. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees.

Remaining windy tonight with fresh to strong west to northwest winds, with very strong gusts in Atlantic coastal counties. Widespread heavy showers will continue, some falling as hail or sleet with snow possible on high ground. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, with frost and icy stretches possible.

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Wednesday

A cool and blustery day tomorrow with any frost and icy patches clearing through the morning. A mix of sunny spells and showers will continue to spread from the northwest, with further wintry falls possible on higher ground. During the evening, the showers will become more isolated. Fresh northwesterly winds, strong in Atlantic coastal areas, with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees.

Becoming largely dry early on Wednesday night with long clear spells and isolated showers. It will turn cloudier in the west and north towards morning. Moderate to fresh northwest winds will quickly ease light variable. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees, with frost and icy patches developing.

Thursday

Cloud will thicken from the west early on Thursday with patchy light rain and drizzle spreading southeastwards across the country through the day. The rain will turn more persistent in the west and northwest later in the evening. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with light southwesterly winds increasing moderate to fresh through the day.

Cloudy with more persistent rain spreading from the northwest overnight. A clearance to isolated showers will move into the northwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate west to southwest winds.

Friday

Rain will clear to the southeast early on Friday morning with sunny spells and isolated showers following from the northwest. Some showers may turn to hail or sleet later. Breezy with moderate to fresh west to northwest winds. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.

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Saturday

A bright and blustery day with sunny spells and scattered showers. The odd wintry shower is possible in mountainous areas. The showers will die out through the evening. Moderate westerly winds will increase fresh northwesterly through the day with highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Further outlook

Remaining mixed for Sunday and early next week with occasional outbreaks of rain, though long dry spells will occur also.