Weather alert as storm hits Ireland

Storm Abigail is set to affect Ireland today, resulting in warnings of strong winds nationwide.

Met Eireann said Westmeath and Roscommon would be affected by gusts of between 90 and 100km per hour.

A yellow weather warning, the lowest-level warning on the three-tier scale, is in effect for Roscommon, Cavan, Monaghan and all parts of Leinster and Munster.

An orange-level warning, the second most severe weather warning, is in place for Leitrim and the western coastal counties of Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo. These areas are to be hit by gusts of up to 120km per hour.

The weather warnings came into effect this morning and will remain in place until 6am tomorrow (Friday), with the strongest winds occurring this evening and into tonight.

It will become cold, despite the strong winds, with lowest temperatures between 2 and 4 degrees tonight.

It will be cold and blustery on Friday with scattered showers of rain or hail in the west becoming widespread, with some heavy and thundery downpours in places.

In a change from the recent mild conditions, the highest temperatures tomorrow will be between just 6 to 9 degrees.