Met Éireann to issue weather warnings as Storm Hannah is set to hit Ireland this weekend

Met Éireann have forecast "very windy" and "stormy" weather as Storm Hannah is set to hit Ireland this weekend.

Meteorologist Gerry Murphy appeared on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland on Thursday, where he confirmed that weather warnings associated to Storm Hannah will be issued later today. Delivering the forecast, he said:

"Later tomorrow, Friday, a depression which we have named Storm Hannah will move in from the West bringing stormy weather tomorrow evening and night - especially to counties Kerry, Clare and Cork. [It will also bring] very windy weather to the rest of the country overnight tomorrow night as well. "Weather warnings associated with Storm Hannah will be issued this morning."

He added that that the strongest of the winds will be in coastal areas, but "as the depression continues to move through tomorrow night, those very strong northwest winds will extend to all areas." https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1121312854664253440 He continued:

"Eventually, through tomorrow night and early Saturday, the winds will ease and the rain will clear away. "For the weekend, there'll be some scattered showers on Saturday and a milder day on Sunday with some rain or drizzle."

Looking towards the forecast for today, Met Éireann have said it will be "dry with good sunshine in the west and north" this morning. However, showers or longer spells of rain will soon develop in the east and south, extending to many areas by early afternoon with the odd thundery downpour possible. Highest temperatures will be between 11C and 15C, with the showers set to continue for a time tonight. A forecaster added:

"Rain will develop in the southwest around midnight and will spread over Munster, much of Connacht and south Leinster overnight. Ulster and north Leinster will stay dry. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 7C."

The news comes after a status yellow weather advisory was issued for Cork and Kerry. The Met Éireann alert warned of potential for stormy conditions in the southwest later on Friday [April 26] and early on Saturday [April 27]. The yellow weather advisory is in place from 6pm on Friday until 6am on Saturday.