'Keeping a close eye' - Ireland braced for potential storm within days amid update

There is the possibility of weather warnings yet again later this week as weather experts monitor a possible named storm making its way towards Ireland. 

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has said he is keeping "a close eye" on a weather system that could bring some unsettled wet and windy weather to our shores.

This system is hot on the heels of a deluge of rain at the weekend which prompted Met Éireann into a series of Status Orange and Status Yellow weather warnings. Record-breaking rain and flooding was recorded in some counties, particularly Co Down which was worst-affected.

Cathal said we will see showers on Monday but Tuesday will be dry and bright, "probably the best day of the week" before "some systems coming out of the eastern US and Canada will make their way across the Atlantic. We'll get a cold flow coming down from the north, warm air to the south, and as that interacts, all the ingredients are in place, along with a strong jet stream, to lead to the development of a deep area of low pressure."

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Cathal explained that has the systems from the north and south pivot around one another, the low system will "deepen rapidly" but the location is still unclear. Early indications suggested the system from the north would move further west which would have let to worse conditions in Ireland. As it stands, the north system is staying off the south east of Iceland which means the deepening low pressure may just stay off our southern shores.

Either way, it looks like some heavy rain will move in over Ireland as a result of both systems. This rain falling on already flooded areas after the weekend could cause "concern," Cathal said.

Met Éireann's outlook for the week ahead does not refer to a storm but does hint at the unsettled conditions with weather also "turning colder."

Forecasters there said: "Some uncertainty in the detail at present for Wednesday and Thursday. Current indications suggest Wednesday will be mainly dry and bright at first with hazy sunshine and just a few showers, mainly in the west and north. Cloud will increase from the south and west through the day with outbreaks of heavy rain developing, reaching eastern and northern parts in the early night. Highest temperatures 11 to 14 degrees.

"Rain on Wednesday night will gradually clear to showery conditions on Thursday with sunny spells as it turns colder. Quite windy too with blustery west to northwest winds. Highs of 9 to 11 degrees."

Between now and then, they say "some clear spells are likely tonight ]Monday] in parts of the south, but it will be rather cloudy in general with occasional rain or showers feeding in from the Atlantic. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate westerly winds, fresher near some western and northwest coasts."

They add that Tuesday "will be quite cloudy to begin with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, but some brighter spells will develop during the day along with some showers. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh west to northwest winds, easing in the evening

"Largely dry with long clear spells on Tuesday night, apart from isolated coastal showers in the west and north. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees with light to moderate westerly winds, backing light southwest or variable overnight. Patchy mist and fog too."