Met Eireann warns of cold weather u-turn amid more 'strong winds'

Met Eireann has warned of more strong winds just a week after Storm Debi ripped across the country.

Forecasters predict some colder weather too with temperatures falling close to zero next week.

Met Eireann predicts "widespread showers on Sunday, some heavy and prolonged. Spells of sunshine will develop in places, especially during the afternoon across the midlands and south.

"Fresh or strong westerly winds will be gusty and may lead to local wave overtopping along the west coast at high tide. Winds will back southwest and moderate later in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees generally.

"On Sunday night, there will be further showers or longer spells of rain. Winds will gradually turn round to the northwest, strengthening again, and very strong and squally for a time in the far southwest and south. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees, coldest in the east and south."

Forecasters say Monday will be "cool and breezy with sunshine and showers. The showers most frequent over Ulster, Connacht and north Leinster. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with fresh, gusty northwest winds, strong on Ulster and north Connacht coasts.

"Tuesday will be cold and mainly dry with sunshine and light winds. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees. Cold and dry on Tuesday night with some mist and fog and a touch of frost possible in places with lows of 2 to 6 degrees.

"Wednesday, Thursday and much of Friday look to be mostly cloudy with a fair amount of dry weather and some patchy rain or drizzle at times, most likely in parts of the north and west near coasts. Highest temperatures of 11 or 12 degrees with mostly moderate westerly winds, fresh at times in the north and light in the southwest."

Beyond that, they say "current indications suggest that there will be rain on Friday night with showers following on Saturday."