Storm Callum to make landfall tomorrow night bringing 'high winds and heavy rain' for much of the country

By Kim O'Leary

A yellow weather warning has been issued nationwide as rain and high winds are set to affect the country as Storm Callum is expected to make landfall tomorrow night, with much of the country including Co Kildare to face 'high winds and heavy rainfall' over the next few days.

A weather system, expected to be named Storm Callum today, has been brewing to the north west, near Newfoundland, and will hit Ireland tomorrow night.

Last night, Met Éireann updated its weather warning to yellow across the country, with risks of damaging gusts, especially along the west and northwest coast.

https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1049736664451559430

https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1049878275537932289

There are also risks of coastal flooding, and the warning is in place from 11pm tomorrow until 9pm on Saturday.

Met Éireann's Joan Blackburn said: "It's Thursday night into Friday that people are concerned with and we are concerned with. Some very strong winds overnight tomorrow night and Friday morning and some very heavy, possibly thundery rain as well. The winds will be quite severe particularly in the west and north-west of the country in the early hours of Friday morning. So some severe winds, some damaging gusts there."

Ireland could also face the tail-end of two hurricanes with Hurricane Leslie predicted to bring heavy rainfall and gusts heading into the weekend, while the tail-end of Hurricane Michael could arrive on Tuesday as it is 'steadily intensifying' over the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.

Indian summer

Meanwhile, the forecast for the next few days is for a brief Indian summer with temperatures reaching a balmy 20 degrees by Wednesday.

According to Met Eireann, it will be dry and bright today for Co Kildare with some low cloud in places for a time this morning, but good sunny periods developing. Warm for October with afternoon temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees Celsius but breezy, in a moderate or fresh southeast breeze. Cloud will thicken in the evening in the southeast and possibly some light rain may develop there.

Dry in many places at first tonight, but showery rain developing. Lowest temperatures of 13 or 14 degrees Celsius in fresh southeasterly breezes.

Cloudy and misty tomorrow Thursday with rain well scattered at first but turning persistent and heavy in places during the morning and early afternoon, but drying out again later in the afternoon and for the evening. Afternoon highs of 15 or 16 degrees Celsius and the fresh and gusty southeast winds will veer southwesterly