Batten down the hatches!

Heavy showers and strong winds are expected across the country this evening, as Met Éireann issues three separate status yellow weather warnings which are set to affect the entire country. A Status Yellow wind warning has been issued for the entire country for Monday night, with south to southeast winds reaching mean speeds of between 50 and 65km/h with gusts of between 80 and 110km/h. This, according to BBC weather forecaster Barra Best, signals the beginning of Storm Irene which is set to batter the country as it makes its way up from Portugal. Sunday saw Met Éireann issue two Status Yellow warnings (one wind, one rain) for eight counties, with accumulations of 25 to 50mm expected and some localised spot flooding possible. Those counties were Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford. This evening a third Status Yellow warning was issued for a further seven counties: Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow. Winds are expected to be strongest along Atlantic coastal counties at first, but the strong winds will extend countrywide through the course of the Monday afternoon and evening, with the weather warning remaining in effect until 6am on Tuesday morning. The warnings come after a far more optimistic forecast for later in the week, with warm and mainly dry conditions and sunny spells predicted from Wednesday onwards, when temperatures will reach as high as 18 degrees. About time, too.