Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Co. Donegal.

Spells of heavy rain can be expected while the warning is in place, from 6:00a.m Thursday (March 12) until 6:00a.m on Friday.

Met Éireann said possible impacts inclue: localised flooding; poor visibility; and difficult travelling.

Wind warning

A Status Yellow wind warning is in place for the country from midnight tonight (March 11) until 6:00p.m on Thursday.

Strong and gusty south-westerly winds can be expected.

Potential impacts include: difficult travelling conditions; debris or loose objects displaced; and some fallen branches or trees.

National forecast

This afternoon (Wednesday) will be bright with sunny spells and scattered showers, which will become more isolated through the afternoon.

Cloud will build from the west towards evening.

Tonight will start off dry in many areas with cloud increasing and winds strengthening.

Rain will develop in the west and north-west by midnight and will spread eastwards to all areas overnight.

Thursday will be wet and windy with spells of rain and fresh to strong and gusty south to south west winds.

Rain will be heavy at times with spot flooding possible.

It will slowly clear south eastwards through the afternoon and evening with showers following, some possibly of hail. 

Thunderstorms

Thursday night will be cold with scattered blustery wintry showers, mainly affecting Atlantic counties.

Some of the showers will be heavy with isolated thunderstorms.

Some lying snow is possible across higher ground and parts of the north-west.

Friday will be rather cold and breezy with sunny spells and scattered showers.

The showers will fall as sleet and possibly snow at times early on.

Isolated thunderstorms and hail are also likely.