Meteorological autumn has only just begun, but it's already making its presence felt across Ireland. In the past few days the country has endured all the typical traits of the season - relentless downpours, thunderstorms, gusty winds and dark, unsettled skies.
Anyone hoping for a break in the grim conditions will be disappointed, as the week ahead looks set to deliver more of the same, and then some.
What stands out in the latest forecast isn't just the rain or the wind, but rather the combination of conditions developing across the country. Met Eireann is warning of torrential rain capable of causing spot flooding and shifting winds, with gusts reaching near gale-force along western coasts.
On top of that, the national forecaster has admitted there's "a good deal of uncertainty" about the weekend, with a chance that a low pressure system could sweep northwards and dump further heavy rainfall.
The situation is unusual enough that Met Eireann has taken the step of issuing an early weather warning a full day before it's due to take effect. The Status Yellow rain warning, announced on Monday afternoon, doesn't kick in until 6pm tonight. The alert covers five counties - Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Galway - and lasts nine hours, expiring at 3am Wednesday.
People in these counties are being warned to brace themselves for "heavy spells of blustery rain", with possible impacts including difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility and localised flooding.
While the west and southwest has been warned to brace for the worst, the rest of the country won't escape. The latest forecast suggests Ireland is set for an extremely unsettled week of weather.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, Met Eireann said: "A dry and bright Tuesday morning for most with just well scattered showers, more frequent in Ulster early on. Cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle will develop in the southwest later in the morning, gradually extending northeastwards through the day, turning heavy in the west and southwest later. However, the rain will not reach Ulster until night-time. Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C in light to moderate westerly winds, backing southerly winds later in the afternoon and strengthening in the evening.
"Widespread outbreaks of rain Tuesday night , heavy in places with spot flooding likely. The rain will mostly clear eastwards by morning with some patches of fog developing in southern areas. Lowest temperatures of 9C to 14C with fresh and gusty southeasterly winds, veering southwesterly, strong near coasts.
"Becoming largely dry but cloudy Wednesday morning with isolated showers and just limited sunny spells. Better sunny spells will develop from the south during the afternoon but cloud and showers may push in to southern areas during the evening. Highest temperatures of 15C to 19C with fresh and gusty southwesterly winds, strong or near gale force near western and northern coasts. The winds will begin to ease from the south later in the day.
"Showery outbreaks of rain will push up from the south Wednesday night, mainly affecting Munster and Leinster with some heavy falls possible. Staying largely dry in Ulster and Connacht with the longest clear spells in the northwest. Lowest temperatures of 8C to 13C in mostly light to moderate southwesterly winds, fresh at first in the north and west and strengthening near southern coasts by morning.
"Further showery outbreaks of rain likely in the south and east Thursday though with dry intervals at times. Drier and sunnier in the north and west with a few showers. Highest temperatures of 16C to 19C generally with light to moderate southwesterly winds, fresher near southern and northwestern coasts.
"Dry for most Thursday night with isolated showers. However, showery outbreaks of rain may continue to affect southern and southeastern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of 9C to 13C in light to moderate southwesterly winds.
"A mix of cloud and some sunny spells Friday along with isolated showers for most. The best of the sunny spells will be in the north. Mostly cloudy though in southeastern areas with a continued chance of showery outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 15C to 17C in mostly light breezes.
"A good deal of uncertainty in the details for Saturday at present. Most likely there will be a fair amount of dry weather with just some showers. However, there is a chance of a low pressure system moving northwards over the country bringing some heavy falls of rain."
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