The first storm of the season could be named this week amid a “risk of strong winds” on Thursday, according to Met Éireann.
Rain and windy conditions are expected throughout this week before what will be a “blustery” bank holiday weekend, though Thursday is likely to see the windiest conditions.
According to the latest forecast, Thursday is expected to be “very windy” with “strong and gusty” northwesterly winds.
Rain is also expected, with heavy falls likely across the country that day, gradually spreading to “all parts” from the southwest and ultimately clearing to the east overnight.
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Noting a risk of strong winds on Thursday, Met Éireann said the strongest gusts are expected to affect the south coast of the country and the southwest of the UK.
“We will monitor the evolution of this system in collaboration with the UK Met Office and if it meets the criteria for a storm, it will be named,” it said.
The first storm of the season will be called Storm Austen, a name chosen by Met Éireann in tribute to Austen H Nagle.
Nagle became the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service when he was appointed in 1936.
Before Thursday, wet and windy conditions are forecast throughout the week, beginning with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the east and south of the country throughout Monday.
Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees are expected during the day, and Monday will be a “cold night”, dropping to lows of -1 to 3 degrees.
Tuesday will start “cold but dry”, though rain is expected to develop in the southwest, with some “heavy and persistent falls” before spreading east overnight.
Highs of 10 to 15 degrees are expected on Tuesday, before dropping to lows of 5 to 9 degrees that night.
Rain is set to linger in the east for a time on Wednesday while the rest of the country will see sunshine and scattered showers, though it will be a “blustery day”.
Highs of 8 to 12 degrees are expected before falling to lows of 3 to 7 degrees on Wednesday night.
Showers are set to continue along the west coast on Wednesday night though conditions will be largely dry elsewhere.
Following a very windy and wet Thursday, the forecaster said, Friday will see scattered showers and “blustery winds” amid highs of 8 to 11 degrees.
Beyond Friday, Met Éireann said conditions were likely to remain unsettled over the bank holiday weekend, with “more rain” and some blustery conditions expected.
