A MONTH of bitterly cold weather has been replaced today with a new weather warning – for very high winds which could cause damage here in Donegal today and on Monday.
And a European forecaster says conditions in Ireland today are ripe for a tornado alert.
‘There is an alert for strong winds later today in and again on Monday night, this time gusts over 100 km/hr will be felt more widely in the west and north,” said Peter O’Donnell from Irish Weather Online.
He says gusts on Monday night in Donegal Bay could reach 115km/hr.
Meanwhile the European agency www.estofex.org is warning of possible tornados here today – with Donegal experiencing six sightings in the past year.
Here’s Peter O’Donnell’s prediction for next few days:
TODAY … Moderate to strong southwest winds increasing towards afternoon and peaking this evening (for most places 50-90 km/hr but 70-110 km/hr near Atlantic coasts), morning rain ending soon in the east, then a relatively dry period with showers redeveloping with longer periods of rain or thundershowers in western counties, a further 5-15 mm by midnight, with brief brighter intervals mainly in Leinster, and highs 13-15 C.
TONIGHT … Windy (SW to W 70-110 km/hr in Connacht, 50-90 km/hr elsewhere), light rain tapering to drizzle then partial clearing before dawn, lows 6-8 C.
MONDAY … Sunny intervals to start, more frequent across the inland south, cloudy with rain developing later, southwest winds may become rather strong by late in the day, highs near 13.
MONDAY NIGHT into TUESDAY … Windy (SW 60-100 km/hr) with periods of rain, overnight temperatures steady 7-9 C with rainfalls about 15 mm. Some stronger gusts to 115 km/hr near Donegal Bay. Winds easing rapidly during the day Tuesday, showers ending, some sunny intervals. Highs 11-13 C.