Met Éireann confirms exact date 72 hours of rain and cyclonic winds will hit

Ireland is set for a dramatic change in weather

We've all been enjoying the rather rare mild weather in Ireland, however, the calm is about to come to an end as we're set for a drastic shift, as Met Éireann has confirmed a total shift in the forecast.

The national forecaster warns that heavy rain, thundery bursts, and cyclonic winds are set to hit Ireland this weekend.

The dramatic change in weather is due to a shift in pressure systems over the country.

"We'll see a change to unsettled conditions for the weekend and next week as high pressure slips away eastwards and allows low pressure to take control," the forecaster explains.

High-pressure systems typically bring dry and settled weather, whereas low-pressure systems often result in storms, heavy rain and strong winds.

As a consequence of the high-pressure systems drifting east, Ireland is left with ruthless low-pressure conditions developing in the Atlantic.

Met Éireann has said that the unsettled conditions are set to hit Saturday (October 18), with the poor weather expected to last for 72 hours, continuing into Monday.

The full forecast reads: "Saturday will be a cloudy, breezy day with rain in the southwest and west gradually spreading eastwards. The rain will be heaviest and most persistent in parts of the south and west, with some thundery falls and some spot flooding possible. It'll stay mainly dry, though in parts of the east and northeast until the afternoon or evening. Highest temperatures of 12C to 15C in fresh and gusty southeast winds, stronger at times in coastal parts.

"Saturday night will be wet and blustery, with some heavy falls of rain becoming fairly widespread, with some thundery bursts and some spot flooding likely. Lowest temperatures of 10 °C to 13 °C in fresh, occasionally strong, and gusty southeast winds. Towards morning, a clearance will start to move into the southwestern and western parts, with the winds veering westerly there and tending to moderate.

"Starting wet at first on Sunday in many areas, with some heavy rain for a time, especially in the east and northeast, with some thundery falls and spot flooding there. However, that clearance to brighter conditions in the west and southwest with some sunshine will gradually extend eastwards to most parts through the morning, with the rain clearing from the east and northeast through the afternoon. Showers will follow through from the west through the morning and afternoon, becoming fairly widespread, and some will be heavy, with a slight chance of thunder. Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C with the winds continuing to veer westerly as the persistent rain clears and will decrease to light to moderate.

"Sunday night will bring some clear spells but with further showers, some heavy with isolated thunder and with the likelihood of some longer spells of rain in parts of the west and southwest. There'll be some mist and fog in parts, too. Lowest temperatures of 7C to 11C in mostly light to moderate southwest to west winds, though winds will be fresher at times, especially in parts of the south and southwest.

"Monday will bring further showers or longer spells of rain, some of that heavy, with the chance of isolated thunder. Highest temperatures of 12C to 15C with light to moderate cyclonic variable winds in the north and east, but breezier elsewhere, moderate to fresh southwest to west winds."