Status yellow wind warning issued for entire country 

An umbrella after being put in a bin having been damaged in the high winds in Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow weather warning for the entire country this morning.  

Valid until 6pm Saturday evening, the warning is now in place from 11am this morning. 

The original warning only included counties in the east and southeast with Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Louth affected. 

Southerly winds will reach mean speeds of 50km/hr to 65 km/hr with gusts of up to 110 km/hr.

Elsewhere, rain, thundery at times, will spread from the south of the country to the rest of Ireland as the day becomes increasingly windy. 

Southeast winds are to increase from strong to nearly gale force in strength. 

Gales or strong gales are expected on the coasts throughout the afternoon but will ease this evening as winds veer Southwest and ease as the rain clears north. 

The highest temperatures will be between 9C/11C.