South to southeast winds will reach mean speeds between 50km/h and 65km/h, with gusts between 80km/h and 110km/h. Winds strongest along Atlantic coastal counties at first, but the strong winds will extend countrywide through the course of Monday evening. The warning is in place to Tuesday morning at 6am.

Counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford can expect rainfall totals of 25mm to 50mm on Monday and into Tuesday. There will be higher amounts of rain on hills and mountains. Localised spot flooding is also possible. Met Éireann has a yellow rainfall warning in place for these counties until 9am Tuesday.

The rainfall warning has been extended to south Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow. Here up to 40mm is expected over the period, with the potential for higher amounts on hills and mountains. Localised spot flooding is also possible.

The Portugese Meteorology service, which also named Hurricane Ophelia, has named this system as Storm Irene.

For more on the naming of storms and how to interpret national weather warnings, see this week's Irish Farmers Journal, in shops Thursday or online from Wednesday night.

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