A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for seven counties for Friday, when Storm Eunice is set to hit the country.
Met Éireann issued the warnings for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Wexford, saying the storm will bring severe and potentially damaging winds, gusting up to 130km/h, higher in exposed areas.
The forecaster added that some disruption is expected along with a possibility of coastal flooding.
The warning will be in place from 5am on Friday to 11am on Friday.
A yellow wind warning for Ireland is in place across the country until midnight tonight, with a risk of coastal flooding and also some spot flooding in areas from heavy rain, due to Storm Dudley.
On Friday, a Status Yellow wind, rain and snow warning will be in place from 1am to 3pm.
The Department of Local Government said Storm Dudley will bring "strong and gusty winds across Ireland" today, with gusts reaching around 80-110km/h, especially in hilly areas and along exposed coasts.
The department also said Storm Eunice will bring "disruptive and challenging weather conditions on Friday, with impacts from strong winds, heavy rain and snow expected".
Harbour wall in Portstewart, Co Derry, breached by #StormDudley at 7pm high tide @rtenews @G_Broadcast pic.twitter.com/fdyuPz3oYw
— Vincent Kearney (@vincekearney) February 16, 2022
Meteorologist Matthew Martin said they are "keeping a very close eye on the forecast for Friday as Storm Eunice is expected to bring some challenging weather conditions, especially on Friday morning as strong winds, heavy rain and snow moves across the country".
"At the moment it looks like northern and western areas are most likely to see the heaviest snow falls, with southern areas expected to see the strongest winds, however we're still a few days ahead and the details of when and where are likely to change.
"With this in mind, we’re urging people to keep a very close eye on the forecast and warnings for their area as these may change in the coming days."
#StormDudley
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) February 16, 2022
Firefighters from Donnybrook fire station and public lighting crews from @DubCityCouncil were called to #Ballsbridge after high winds damaged a lamp post. Working with @ESBNetworks the scene was made safe. pic.twitter.com/srJxU0eRD2
Meteorologist Gerry Murphy said Storm Dudley will generate strong westerly winds, bringing damaging gusts.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Murphy said: "It's a depression that's going to move to the north of the country, and it's going to generate very strong westerly winds right across the country really from around midday onwards."
He said there will be a high tide at around 5pm before a lull tomorrow ahead of Storm Eunice, which will also produce very high winds.
"Another significant aspect of Eunice is the fact that it's going to bring some heavy rain sleet, but also some snow.
"So there is the potential for lying snow, especially over parts of Connacht and Ulster as we go through the early hours of Thursday on into Friday," he said.
'More vicious'
Mr Murphy said the potential for disruption Storm Eunice will be "more vicious" as it will also bring rain, sleet, and snow and there is a good risk of travel disruption due to high winds on Friday morning, coupled with sleet and snow.
Once Storm Eunice clears, cold, showery weather will follow and any snow that has fallen will take a while to melt, he added.
Members of the Government committee that coordinates responses to emergencies met yesterday in preparation for the forthcoming storms.
Its Crisis Management Team will continue to liaise with Met Éireann to monitor the evolving weather patterns and intends to conduct further meetings of the group over the coming days.
The Road Safety Authority has appealed to road users to exercise caution over the coming days.
#StormEunice may bring challenging and disruptive conditions on Friday due to strong winds, heavy rain and snow.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 16, 2022
⚠️Yellow #rain, #wind and #snow warnings are in place.
⚠️Keep an eye on the latest warnings over the coming days 👉🏾 https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/8jhUM68kWD
In Northern Ireland, an amber wind warning for Antrim and Derry is in effect from 4pm until midnight.
A yellow wind warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry has been issued for 3pm this afternoon until 6am tomorrow.
The UK Met Office said Storm Dudley will bring very strong winds and a risk of disruption.
A yellow wind and snow warning associated with Storm Eunice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with heavy snow and strong winds forecast.
That warning will be in effect from 3am to 6pm on Friday.
The storms are also having an effect on ferries, with Stena Line cancelling some sailings.
The Dublin to Holyhead route this afternoon and its return this evening is cancelled, as is the Rosslare-Fishguard sailing this evening and its return journey in the morning.
Two sailings between Belfast and Cairnryan have been cancelled this afternoon, with later scheduled ferries also in doubt.
