Storm Floris: Strong winds and rain due as Met Éireann issues multiple weather warnings

Waves break on the rocky shoreline at Weaver's Point, Crosshaven, Co Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins

Met Éireann has issued several status yellow warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Floris, which is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and the risk of localised flooding to parts of the country on Monday.

The forecaster is warning of hazardous driving conditions, possible structural damage, fallen trees, power outages, and wave overtopping along coastal areas. Outdoor events may also be affected by the stormy conditions.

Storm Floris is expected to track across the country overnight Sunday into Monday, with conditions worsening in the early hours.

Meanwhile, the UK Met Office has issued a 24-hour status yellow wind warning for all of Northern Ireland, saying Storm Floris is likely to bring "a spell of unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds" to the region.

Storm Floris warning 

The warnings come as Met Éireann issued a nationwide weather advisory ahead of the storm, which it says will bring “unseasonably impactful weather” from Sunday night into Monday.

The forecaster describes the storm as a “deepening low-pressure system” likely to track to the northwest, bringing a spell of “heavy rain and very strong winds.” 

The storm is expected to cause:

• Dangerous travel conditions 
• Fallen trees, debris, and loose objects 
• Structural damage 
• Knock-on impacts for outdoor events 
• Power outages 
• Wave overtopping 
• Localised flooding due to leaves and debris

The advisory is in place until 1pm on Monday. 

Forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said: "As this is a public holiday weekend with a large number of outdoor events and with many people going camping, etc, and with an increased usage of temporary structures such as tents, more people will be at a greater risk of exposure than would normally be the case."

Mr Doran-Sherlock added that while neap tides will bring the lowest tidal ranges of the cycle on Sunday and Monday, strong onshore winds and high waves may cause wave overtopping in low-lying coastal areas of the northwest and west.

"Our advice would be to pay attention to the weather forecasts and warnings issued over the weekend and take them into consideration with any plans you have. And as always, please heed the advice of local authorities," he added.

Met Éireann has advised that Storm Floris will bring a wet and windy August bank holiday weekend. Picture: Met Éireann

Forecast

More generally, Met Éireann says Sunday will start with rain and drizzle. "Patchy mist and fog will be clearing early on with brighter spells and isolated showers developing from the west," the forecaster said.

"This afternoon will be cloudier with patches of rain and drizzle developing over parts of Connacht and Munster by later this evening."

Temperatures are set to reach highs of 23C. 

On Sunday night, as Storm Floris approaches, there will be "unseasonably wet and windy weather with spells of rain, heavy at times in the north and northwest".

It will be mild, with temperatures falling to lows of 11C to 16C, but there will be "strong or near gale force" winds along Atlantic coasts towards the morning.

Bank Holiday Monday "will start off wet and windy across the country with mostly strong southwesterly winds, strengthening to gale force along western and northern Atlantic coasts". 

Met Éireann says rain will clear eastwards through the afternoon with sunny spells and scattered showers to follow. 

"Winds will gradually ease through the day with highest temperatures of 14C to 21C, feeling coolest in the north and northwest."

Monday night will see a "mostly dry" night that will be "clear with cloudier conditions and isolated showers in the north and northwest, spreading eastwards overnight". 

There will be some "good bright spells for most" on Tuesday, although there will be some scattered showers. Met Éireann says "cloud will increase early on for a time before breaking up again by the early afternoon". Temperatures of up to 20C are expected. 

Tuesday night will be dry and clear, while Wednesday will see a dry start with spells of hazy sunshine and isolated showers developing in the early afternoon.

Met Éireann says it is likely to remain unsettled for the rest of the week with spells of rain expected.