ALERT: Met Eireann issues weather warning for 12 counties for this weekend

Met Eireann is warning of "very strong and gusty" conditions as well as spells of heavy rain in a dozen counties across Ireland this weekend.

Because of the mid-term break, the number of people travelling over the coming days will be higher than usual and motorists are being urged to exercise - particularly on Sunday.

With stormy weather approaching, the national forecaster has issued status yellow warnings for most coastal counties for almost all of Sunday.

A wind and rain warning for 12 counties - Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow - will come into effect at 2am on Sunday and will remain in place until 3pm.

A separate wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo will be  valid from 3pm until midnight (Sunday night/Monday morning).

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Met Éireann says potential impacts during the stormy conditions will include difficult travel conditions, localised flooding, fallen trees and loose debris

Motorists are being warned there may also be poor visibility in places due to the heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms.

Local authority crews have been placed on standby and will be deployed if needed and once it is safe to do so.