Storm Goretti: Snow and rain warning for Cork and Kerry as temperatures to drop to -2C

The warning will see heavy rain turn to sleet and snow in places on Thursday afternoon, particularly at elevation

The alert will come into effect at midday on Thursday and remain in place until 8pm.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow snow and rain warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, and Wexford as the effects of Storm Goretti hit Ireland.

The warning will see rain, which will be heavy at times, turn to sleet and snow in places on Thursday afternoon, particularly at elevation.

The alert will come into effect at midday on Thursday and remain in place until 8pm.

The potential impacts include hazardous travelling conditions, spot flooding, poor visibility, and icy patches.

Storm Goretti was named by French forecaster Meteo France. If a storm is named by one meteorological agency, others will follow suit to maintain consistency.

Met Éireann normally works with the UK's Met Office and the Netherlands' KNMI. A storm gets a name when it’s expected to cause medium or high impacts in Ireland, Britain, or the Netherlands. The national service most at risk does the naming, and along with the name comes the relevant orange or red warnings for wind, rain, or snow.

The main effects of Storm Goretti are set to be felt in Britain and across Europe.

Unsettled conditions to continue 

More generally, Met Éireann says Wednesday will see a cold afternoon with temperatures not rising above 2C to 4C generally, but up to between 5C and 8C in west Connacht and parts of Munster. 

Later tonight, rain and drizzle will gradually clear northeastwards early on and it will be mostly dry for a time with just a few showers affecting mainly Atlantic coastal counties. 

Towards Wednesday morning, rain and drizzle will move in over parts of the south and southwest, while temperatures tonight will fall to lows 0C to 4C.

On Thursday, ahead of the warning kicking in, thickening cloud along with outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue to push up over much of the country from the south and southwest, said Met Éireann.

"The rain will turn heavy at times near the south coast, potentially turning to sleet and snow over parts of Munster and south Leinster in the afternoon, before clearing eastwards through the late afternoon and evening."

It will be dry and clear for most on Thursday night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle along eastern fringes at first. It will be cold, with temperatures falling to lows of -2C to 2C. 

Met Éireann said: "Overnight scattered showers will feed in from the west, affecting parts of Munster and Connacht, with isolated showers further north."

Heading into the weekend, it will be "less cold than as of late", but still chilly at times. 

Met Éireann said "unsettled conditions" will bring showers and further outbreaks of rain, possibly turning wintry with hail and sleet.