Communities along west and south coasts are bracing themselves for possible flooding due to high tides and gale force winds.

A flood warning from Met Éireann came into force in the early hours of this morning and applies to coastal areas of counties Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

A Status Yellow wind warning is also in place for the entire country, with gusts of 110 kilometres per hour expected.

Met Éireann forecaster Deirdre Lowe says there is some better weather on the way:

"This (today's warning) enhances the risk of coastal flooding in these parts, so the risk is there, but the heavy rain will clear and there will be an improving picture for the afternoon."