A weather warning has been issued for seven counties ahead of Storm Caroline this week.

Met Eireann issued the status yellow caution for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Kerry on Tuesday afternoon. The wind warning will be in place from 3am on Thursday morning until 8pm that evening. The storm, which the UK Met Office have named Caroline, is forecast to pass close to the north coast of Scotland on Thursday morning. Severe winds will affect areas over Scotland, but Met Eireann warned that the storm will also generate strong, blustery winds of Ireland. Gusts between 100 to 110 km/h are forecast, with the strongest winds in coastal areas and over high ground. The yellow weather warning comes as wind, rain, hail and snow have been forecast for Ireland over the next few days. Wednesday will be a windy, blustery day with heavy and persistent rain in many places, but especially in Atlantic coastal counties and along the south coast in the afternoon and evening. Overnight, there will be widespread and heavy rain for a time before clearing southeastwards overnight. Meanwhile, there will be sunny spells on Thursday and temperatures will turn colder through the afternoon. Fresh, gusty northwesterly winds will bring scattered showers over areas of Ulster, Connacht, and west Munster in the afternoon. Some of the showers will be heavy, with hail and an increasing risk of sleet and snow showers as the evening goes on. Clear spells are forecast for Thursday night, with scattered rain, hail and snow showers, with accumulations of snow possible particularly in the north and northwest.