Ireland is set to hit by thundery showers later today with the potential for gale force winds in some parts of the country.
An unsettled week is in store with heavy, thundery spells of rain expected in the north and west today, while widespread showers are expected tomorrow.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Blustery and noticeably cooler today, Tuesday, with sunny spells and showers.
"Some of the showers will be heavy with a risk of thunder, most frequent in north and west. Top temperatures 12 to 15 degrees.
"Southwesterly winds will be generally fresh to strong and gusty, but localised gale force winds will occur about western parts of Connacht and Ulster at first today, before easing somewhat later this afternoon.
"Tomorrow, Wednesday will be another day of sunshine and showers.
"The showers will become fairly widespread during the afternoon, and some of them will be heavy with a risk of thunder.
"Less windy than today, but still breezy in moderate to fresh and gusty southwest to west winds, strong near west and southwest coasts. Top temperatures 11 to 14 degrees."
And it will remain unsettled on Thursday, with a risk of spot flooding in places overnight.
Temperatures will pick up slightly towards the end of the week, with highs of 17C expected on Friday.
A forecaster added: "Many places will probably start out dry and bright to begin on Thursday, but it does look as though cloud will increase during the morning with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the Atlantic.
"Mostly moderate southwesterly winds, will increase fresh to strong and gusty near some coasts. Top temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees.
"Mostly cloudy with further patchy rain and drizzle on Thursday night, possibly turning persistent and heavy in parts of west and north, with a risk of spot flooding by dawn.
"Moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds will increase strong to near gale on southern and western coasts overnight. Lows of 8 to 12 degrees.
"Present indications suggest a mostly cloudy day with showery outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy for a time in the west and north.
"Blustery at first in gusty south to southwest winds, but easing later in the day as winds veer southwest to west.
"Top temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees look likely to occur early on in the day with cooler conditions spreading eastwards over the country during the afternoon and evening."
