A weather warning has been issued across Ireland today as winds are expected to reach 90 kilometres per hour with gusts of up to 150 kilometres.

A Red warning is in effect for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo meaning they could see the highest winds.

Met Eireann says it will become stormy later and for a time tonight, in coastal counties of Connacht and west Ulster. It is forecasting severe south-west winds with average speeds of 70 to 90km/h and damaging gusts of between 120 to 150km/h.

Alerts issued for Ireland today

A warning over very high seas there is also in effect.

While Cavan and Clare have been placed on Orange alert, with severe south-west winds of up to 120 kilometres. It will become stormy there for a time later, with winds strongest in exposed areas.

And a Yellow warning is in place for the rest of the country, meaning winds and gusts could go as high as 100 kilometres an hour. Met Eireann says it will be very windy later this afternoon and evening, with very strong and blustery south-west winds.

All of these warnings are in effect until midnight tonight.

Forecaster Pat Clarke told Lunchtime here on Newstalk what we can expect.

Tomorrow will be cold with blustery wintry showers, especially in the west and north. Met Éireann says there is a chance of some snow, mainly on higher ground.

Friday will begin dry but rain and winds will spread countrywide during the day with some heavy falls of rain expected.

The rain will clear to showers on Saturday and it will become mainly dry over the eastern half of the country. Showers will continue in the west overnight and on Sunday with widespread frost likely on Sunday night.

The unsettled weather is set to continue in the run up to Christmas with the likelihood of very windy or stormy weather.