IT might be the middle of May but Donegal is set for a horrible blast of autumn weather as forecasters warned of dreadful conditions for the week ahead.
Heavy downpours and winds of up to 110 km/hr will lash the county over the next 48 hours.
And the blast of cold air will see temperatures drop to just 4c.
Sunday evening’s showers and blustery winds from the west will be nothing compared to what’s in store for Monday.
Said Peter O’Donnell from Irish Weather Online: “Monday will see periods of rain and heavy showers and it will be rather chilly for mid-May.
“Winds will be strong and gusty – 70-110 km/hr in – late in the day, lows 4-7 C and highs 10-13 C. Rainfalls will see falls of about 10-15 mm. It will be very windy for Monday night with more blustery showers.”
Here’s the rest of the week:
TUESDAY … Continuing windy to mid-day or afternoon (longer in south) with frequent showers or periods of rain, chilly, lows 4-6 C and highs 10-12 C. Winds becoming northwest 40-60 km/hr then decreasing to light northerly.
WEDNESDAY … Cool and mainly overcast with frequent showers or periods of rain, winds becoming northeast or cyclonic and variable. Highs about 11-13 C and possibly 9-10 C in some northern locations. Frost is unlikely due to the cloud cover but any breaks would promote isolated frost.
FURTHER OUTLOOK … Continued rather cool and unsettled with any longer dry intervals probably at least two or three weeks off, temperatures remaining a degree or two below average for mid to late May. Winds becoming more northeasterly in general, but little sign of any large-scale clearing as low pressure will remain over central Europe disrupting any linkage between the Azores high and another strong high in northwest Russia. However, this pattern could improve gradually, with some slightly improved weather possible (not locked in) late next week, and perhaps we’re getting the nasty weather out of the way in time for a better summer scenario. (added on Sunday … the models do hold out some faint hope for improving conditions towards the end of the month.)
