Storm Floris to Bring Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Cork on Bank Holiday Monday

• Cork should prepare for a wet and windy Bank Holiday weekend as Storm Floris approaches, with the worst conditions expected early Monday morning bringing heavy rain and gusts exceeding 60 km/h.

Today's relatively calm conditions will give way to increasingly unsettled weather over the weekend, culminating in stormy conditions as the August Bank Holiday begins. Met Éireann has issued detailed forecasts warning of significant rainfall and strong winds, particularly affecting coastal areas.

Saturday will remain mostly dry and cloudy across Cork, with temperatures reaching a pleasant 18 to 21 degrees. However, conditions will deteriorate from this evening as patchy light rain and drizzle push in from the west. The rain will extend to all areas tonight, becoming heavier in places, with unusually mild overnight temperatures of 15 to 16 degrees.

Sunday starts cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle, but these will clear eastwards during the morning, leaving brighter spells and only isolated showers for the afternoon. Temperatures will again reach 18 to 21 degrees in light to moderate westerly winds, offering a brief respite before Storm Floris arrives.

Sunday night marks a significant change as Storm Floris tracks north of Ireland. Rain will spread from the west, accompanied by strengthening southwesterly winds that will become strong at times along Atlantic coasts. The storm system, with a central pressure around 988 to 994 hPa, will bring its worst conditions to Cork in the early hours of Monday morning.

Bank Holiday Monday will see the most challenging weather. Weather charts indicate an organised band of heavy rain will reach Cork before dawn, with rainfall rates exceeding 3 mm per hour in places. Strong and gusty southwesterly winds are forecast, with gusts likely to exceed 60 km/h, particularly on exposed coasts around areas like Crosshaven and Ballycotton.

The good news is that conditions will improve relatively quickly. The cold front is expected to clear east of Cork by late morning, with the heavy rain replaced by drier intervals and scattered showers. Winds will veer westerly and begin to ease, though occasional strong gusts may persist into the afternoon. Brighter spells should develop later, with temperatures reaching 16 to 20 degrees.

Tuesday offers much better conditions as high pressure ridges in from the Atlantic. The day looks mostly dry with plenty of sunny spells and only scattered showers. Northwest winds will be moderate to fresh, with temperatures again reaching 16 to 20 degrees.

Those with outdoor Bank Holiday plans should consider Monday morning activities particularly carefully. Early morning runners, especially those participating in any organised events, should be aware of the hazardous conditions expected before 9am. Beach-goers and water sports enthusiasts should exercise extreme caution, particularly along the coast where conditions will be most severe.

The remainder of the week shows continued uncertainty, with Thursday looking potentially wet and cloudy again. However, the immediate concern remains Storm Floris and its impact on Bank Holiday Monday morning.

For those travelling, expect difficult driving conditions on Monday morning with surface water likely on many roads, particularly the N71 coast road and other exposed routes. Allow extra time for journeys and check for any fallen debris after the strongest winds pass through.