Two Status Yellow warnings issued with wind and rain in the mix

Stay warm and dry.

Met Éireann has issued two new Status Yellow weather warnings as the year draws to a close in typically unsettled fashion. The first such missive is a rain warning, with eight counties listed – Cavan, Donegal, Longford, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. According to the national forecaster, heavy rain in these counties will result in some localised flooding. This warning is valid from 10pm on Thursday (29 December) and will stay in place until 8am on Friday morning. The second warning is a wind warning, and it applies to six counties – Dublin, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway, Kerry and Waterford. Met Éireann says that south to southwest winds will be "very strong and gusty at times", particularly near coasts and on high ground. This warning is also valid from 10pm on Thursday night and is set to expire at 7am on Friday morning. As for a more general outlook for the next couple of days, Thursday should see highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, with "good dry periods" developing following a showery and windy morning. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will hit during the evening, however, alongside lowest temperatures of zero to 5 degrees. Friday, meanwhile, will be wet to begin with – expected widespread outbreaks of rain, with heavy falls and localised flooding in places. The afternoon looks a drier prospect, with highest daytime temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees anticipated. Friday night will bring showery outbreaks of rain, extending from the southwest during the night. The north and west should receive the driest and coldest conditions, with lowest temperatures of zero to 4 degrees. Patches of frost and fog may also materialise. https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1608410653748002816