KILKENNY WEATHER: Heavy rain, flood warnings … and a Saharan dust storm!
After yesterday’s brief respite, it appears we’re in for another long spell of heavy rain, flood warnings, temperatures in the mid-teens … and a possible dust storm!
A strange ‘dust phenomenon’ is set to sweep across Europe, and it could have an impact on Ireland’s weather forecast over the coming days.
A substantial amount of Sahara Desert Dust is forecast to spread across Europe over Sunday and Monday meaning large particles will sprinkle over the country in the next few days. As well as this, a warm wave with spring-like weather will develop over Europe for the remainder of February as a result of the pattern change.
Met Éireann said conditions overall will be mixed for the week ahead, although it is set to get a bit warmer.
Today will be dry and bright in Kilkenny and much of the country with sunny spells and highest temperatures of between 9 to 12 degrees. But it will turn increasingly windy tonight with south to southeast gales developing on coasts. Met Éireann said: “Rain will develop in the southwest and west early in the night, before extending nationwide after midnight. Heavy falls, especially in the southwest with a risk of localised flooding. Minimum temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees early on but turning milder later.”
It looks set to be a wet and very windy day on Tuesday with further spells of heavy rain pushing northwards over the country with strong to gale force southerly winds. The national forecaster added: “A continued risk of localised flooding. Mild despite the inclement weather conditions with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. Rain will tend to linger into Tuesday night, especially across the east and south with some drier periods in the west and north. Staying windy and mild with lows of 7 to 10 degrees.”
It will be a wet morning in the east and south on Wednesday, but it is expected to become drier from the west by afternoon with a mix of bright spells and scattered showers across the country and highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.
Early indications suggest Thursday will be a bright and breezy day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers and Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees “in moderate to fresh southwest winds”.
