Local authorities in many areas are preparing for a flooding risk at the weekend as heavy rain hits the country from Sunday.
While tomorrow is likely to be dry and pleasant, from Sunday afternoon, it will become windy and even stormy with widespread heavy rain and very strong west to south-westerly winds.
Met Éireann has not yet issued a severe weather alert. But the meteorological office said that as a deep area of low pressure tracks over Ireland during Sunday night and Monday there would be further periods of heavy rain and strong winds with more flooding likely.
Dublin and Galway city councils were both prepared for high tides and localised flooding in coastal areas.
Dublin City Council said weather forecasts, in conjunction with the its own tidal surge early warning system, suggested a severe low pressure off the west coast of Ireland in combination with southerly/easterly winds of 70km per hour gusting to 100km per hour over the coming days.
It said the combination of high tides and low pressure increased the possibility of coastal flooding, particularly at high tide around midnight on Sunday.
The council has started to deploy temporary flood defences in potential at risk areas. Alerts will be issued on radio and through other media.
Car parks on the seafront at Clontarf and Sandymount will be closed from Sunday until Monday evening.
The council advised motorists not to leave cars in these areas, as they may be at risk from flooding.
Local road closures may also be required and these will be identified closer to the weekend as more reliable weather forecasting is available, the council said.
Galway City Council also warned of the possibility of localised flooding in the city over the next five to six days.
Due to an expected combination of spring tides, high winds and low pressure from today until Tuesday, some localised flooding could occur in the Spanish Arch, Spanish Parade, Quay Street and Flood Street area of the city.
Crews will be on call over the weekend to address any problems.
The council has put a safety barrier in place along the edge of the quay at Fishmarket, Spanish Arch. It urged members of the public to have regard for their safety in the area, particularly at high tide.
Irish Water Safety warned there was an increased risk to the public due to flooding.
Heavy tides due to a new moon on Saturday and the low pressure tracking over the country would further increase risks, especially in estuaries exposed to the south and west coasts.
The organisation said fast-moving water could exert pressure of up to four times its speed against the legs of someone attempting to cross it.
“Because water displaces bodyweight, the deeper a person becomes immersed the less the person weighs so the more difficult it is to remain upright.”
It said people should never put their feet down if swept away in floodwater, because foot and body entrapments and pinning were the leading cause of accidental death in rivers.
“Motorists need to be particularly vigilant to avoid flooded areas on roads but particularly near rivers, with poor light and short days it is not possible to determine the depth of floods easily.
“Swift water will carry cars and other vehicles away and there have been very tragic drownings in the past as a result of such accidents.”
Parents should also watch out for children where there was flooding.
On the events front this weekend, the Winter Duathlon takes place in the Phoenix Park on Sunday between 10am and 12.30pm.
Tomorrow, Ireland will play South Africa in the Guinness Series at the Aviva Stadium at 5.30pm.
The 55th Cork Film Festival kicks off on Sunday and runs to November 14th.