A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for four counties with Storm Kathleen expected to batter Irish shores from Saturday.

The Orange warning will come into effect in Galway, Mayo, Cork, and Kerry at 7am on Saturday and is due to remain in place until 5pm that evening.

Met Éireann said the storm will bring gale-force southerly winds, with some severe and damaging gusts.

It said the winds could lead to very difficult travel conditions, fallen trees, power outages, coastal flooding and wave overtopping.

A Status Yellow warning has also been issued for the entire country from 7am to 8pm on Saturday.

Lots of rain

Met Éireann has also said some parts of the country could get up to four times the usual amount of rain over the next week.

Rain is to pick up from tonight with widespread showers expected across the country, continuing through to tomorrow afternoon.

The forecaster is warning that there is a chance of spot flooding in the north of the country on Friday night where rainfall is expected to increase in advance of Storm Kathleen's arrival.

Temperatures are expected to remain between 8 and 12 degrees around the country over the weekend.

On Monday, the rain will move northwards over the country and will be heaviest in the east and south before moving eastwards from Tuesday.

It follows a March that was one of the wettest on record at a number of weather stations around the country.

Main image: Flooding at Salthill, Galway during Storm Isha, 21/01/2024. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo