Met Eireann have issued a Status Yellow warning for two counties as miserable conditions are set to hit Ireland.
The alert is in force for Cork and Kerry from 6pm on Friday until 2am on Saturday.
It reads: "Windy tonight, westerly winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/h and gusts of up to 100 km/h in Kerry and west Cork."
Meanwhile a separate warning for heavy rain is in place for Donegal from 3pm on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.
It says: "Heavy rain at times during the period. Potential for surface and river flooding."
The weekend forecast in general is for wet and windy weather nationwide with thunderstorms also a feature.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, some of them heavy with hail and a risk of isolated thunderstorms. Cloud will increase this afternoon and the showers will merge to longer spells of rain in western counties, before extending eastwards over the country this evening.
"Cool, with highs of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly winds, strengthening near western and southern coasts later.
"Windy at first tonight, with bands of rain clearing to scattered showers overnight, turning wintry at times about high ground. The risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms will also persist.
"Cold with lowest temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees. Fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds veering westerly will reach gale at times along Munster and Connacht coasts.
"Saturday will be a breezy day with a mix of sunny spells and blustery showers again, some of them heavy with hail and a risk of isolated thunderstorms. Some wintry falls are possible about high ground during the morning.
"The showers will be heaviest and most frequent in the west and northwest. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds."
However conditions are set to improve next week, with a mild and dry St Patrick's Day on the cards.
A forecaster added: "A mild and mostly cloudy day on Monday with patchy outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, the best of any sunny spells will in Munster and south Leinster. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees in light to moderate westerly breezes.
"After a mostly cloudy start good sunny spells will develop to give a very pleasant day for most, however it will remain chilliest in the north in light to moderate northwesterly winds with highest temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees.
"Current indication are for St Patrick's Day to remain mild and dry with partly cloudy skies and highest temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees."
