A national weather alert has been issued by Met Eireann. Heavy wind and rain is forcast across the country. Counties Clare, Cork and Dublin are preparing flood defences in anticipation of high tides.

Winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour are due to hit Munster, Connacht and Ulster today, and are expected to last through the weekend.

Met Éireann says an Atlantic storm depression will track to the north-west later Friday night and Saturday. South-westerly winds are set to gust strongest across the Atlantic counties.

There will be frequent heavy showers, some thundery with sleet and snow for a time. But this will mainly be on higher ground.

Members of the public are also being warned to be vigilant near coastal areas. There is a high coastal flood risk due to the combination of very high spring tides, extremely high waves - greater than 10 metres - low pressure and onshore winds.

This is the third major storm system to hit Ireland since December.

Met Éireann Forecaster Gerry Murphy says the severity of storms this winter is unusual.