Met Éireann have issued a fresh status orange weather warning for two counties as Storm Dennis has arrived.

The wind warning has been issued for Wexford and Waterford. It came into effect at 9am today and will last until 8pm on Saturday, February 15. The alert will see south to southwest winds reach average  speeds of 55 to 75 km/h, and will gust up to 120 km/h. The weather will be the strongest on exposed coasts and hills. In terms of the overall weather forecast, Storm Dennis is set to bring very wet and windy weather on Saturday with some severe and damaging gusts expected. Outbreaks of heavy rain are set to extend nationwide during the morning, accompanied by gale force southerly winds. The rain will be squally at times with a risk of thunderstorms. Localised flooding is expected with some coastal flooding along the Atlantic seaboard too.

Status Orange Wind Warning for Wexford and Waterford.
Valid from 09:00 Sat, 15-Feb-2020 until 20:00 Sat, 15-Feb-2020. https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt#stormdennis pic.twitter.com/eIddAZuP5W

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 15, 2020

As for Saturday evening, spells of heavy rain are expected with some thundery downpours likely and more flooding. Winds will ease for a time inland, but gales will continue in coastal counties. And it looks like the impact of Storm Dennis will continue to be felt on Sunday. Tomorrow is expected to be wet and windy with stormy conditions in Atlantic coastal counties, especially in northwestern counties. Widespread heavy showers, especially in the north and west, are set to arrive too with a risk of hail and thunder. Some of the showers may turn wintry on higher ground. Sunday night will see even more showers overnight, although they will become confined to western and northern coasts for a time.