ALERT: Met Éireann issues New Year's weather forecast as storm approaches Ireland

Mostly dry on Sunday with a mix of cloud and some bright or sunny spells.

Occasional patches of light rain or drizzle will occur, mainly in the north and parts of the west.

Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees and becoming a little breezier with moderate, occasionally fresh, southwest winds developing, strong at times near western and northwestern coasts.

Largely dry Sunday night with a few spots of light rain or drizzle, mainly in the north and west with more persistent rain developing in the northwest coasts later.

Lowest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees, coolest in the south and southeast. Southwest winds will mostly increase fresh, occasionally strong and gusty, reaching near gale force in western and northwestern coastal parts.

Largely cloudy Monday with outbreaks of rain developing for parts of Ulster and Connacht through the morning.

Mostly dry elsewhere for the day with some bright or sunny spells and with just the odd shower possible. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, reaching near gale force in western and northwestern coastal parts, decreasing mostly moderate to fresh later.

National Outlook

OVERVIEW: A spell of unsettled weather developing with wet and windy or very windy conditions before turning colder and more settled.

Monday night: A wet and rather windy night with showery outbreaks of rain extending eastwards over the country with some heavy falls possible. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds.

Tuesday (New Year's Eve): Rather windy for much of the day.

Widespread rain at first, becoming confined mainly to Munster and south Leinster through the morning with hazy sunny spells and isolated showers developing over the northern half of the country. Cloud along with outbreaks of rain will then build from the southwest through the afternoon and evening.

Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, stronger near western and northwestern coasts, before easing during the evening.

Tuesday night (New Year's Eve night): Turning wet and windy overnight as rain continues to extend northeastwards, heavy in places, particularly in the north and west with spot flooding possible.

Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees over the northern half of the country, 5 to 9 degrees further south. Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds will develop by morning.

Wednesday (New Year's Day): A very windy day with strengthening southwesterly winds.

Widespread heavy rain at first, clearing southeastwards from most areas through the morning and afternoon but with showery rain will persist in the north and west.

Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees generally.

Wednesday night: Becoming mostly dry early in the night as winds ease northerly. Cold with lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with widespread frost and ice developing.

Thursday: Largely dry, sunny and cold with just a few light showers along north facing coasts and with cloudier conditions possible near the south coast.

Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees generally in mostly light northerly winds. Mostly dry, clear and cold overnight. Lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees with widespread frosts.

Further Outlook: Cold, largely dry and bright for the rest of the week with widespread frosts developing during the nights, stubborn to clear some areas during the days.