Gale force winds to batter coast

WEATHER conditions are expected to take a turn for the worse today, as the tail-end of Hurricane Oscar heads for our shores.

Forecasters have warned that heavy rain and strong winds are to hit the nation in the wake of the weather event which is making its way over the Atlantic.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Kerry from 3pm today to midday tomorrow.

With a dry, frosty start expected today, southerly winds and rain is to develop this afternoon and worsen throughout the evening.

Winds may reach gale force speeds along the coast tonight, with heavy rainfall posing a risk of spot flooding in the west and north.

Blustery conditions and heavy rain will continue into Saturday morning, but winds will ease throughout the night and showers will become more scattered.

We will see an improvement in the weather on Sunday, with breezy and bright conditions to return with just a few rain showers.

The start of next week will see changeable and unsettled conditions, with scattered showers, windy conditions and sunny spells all on the cards.

Storm Oscar was downgraded to a post-tropical storm on Wednesday night.

Conditions are not expected to be as severe as Storm Ali, which resulted in the deaths of two people on either side of the border.