The country could face a repeat of the storms of Christmas Eve late tonight and tomorrow, if the latest weather system to cross the Atlantic continues on its expected course.
Met Eireann stressed it would not be able to issue precise details until early today. But the likelihood is for winds much stronger than yesterday's, and possibly as powerful as those which felled trees and power lines on Christmas Eve.
The storms could again create havoc with transport schedules as tens of thousands of Christmas holiday-makers attempt to leave Ireland. Problems are not expected on most of today's scheduled ferry services. But as a huge exodus of holiday-makers gathers steam, a Stena Line spokesman admitted concern about tomorrow: "Saturday is the really heavy day."
The ferry companies said that, despite some cancellations yesterday, all passengers who were determined to travel were able to do so on the available sailings. Stena Line said many appeared to have deferred their departures.
The conditions are unlikely to cause major problems for flights, according to Aer Rianta, which pointed out that no flights had to be cancelled during the severe weather on Christmas Eve. But a spokesman advised passengers to allow extra time for travel.
Dublin Airport alone is dealing with 150 extra flights this weekend, as returning holiday-makers and ski charters add up to the most concentrated outbound traffic of the year.
If the coming storm follows its expected track - last night, it was still off the Newfoundland coast - the north of the country will bear the brunt of the winds tonight and tomorrow. As the wet weather continues, the weekend is also likely to see showers turn much more wintry, with falling temperatures bringing sleet and possibly snow over high ground.
Yesterday's storms were closely in line with Met Eireann predictions. The highest winds - 74 m.p.h. - were again recorded at Valentia weather station, where more than an inch of rain fell over 24 hours.
There were gusts of 60 m.p.h. in most parts of the country, but little serious damage. The ESB said isolated power cuts were no more than expected given the wind speeds, leaving a maximum of 250 homes without power at any one time yesterday.
Unlike Christmas Eve, the south-west escaped major damage in yesterday's winds, with no reports of trees down and only minor flooding. Among the areas affected by flooding were Ballyvourney, the BandonCrookstown road, the KanturkFreemount road, and Bonane near Kenmare in Co Kerry.
In Dublin a large tree fell at Pembroke Road last night, damaging a second tree and blocking half the road for a period. Earlier in the day, a fallen tree also blocked the road at Ardiloo Bridge in Freshford, Co Kilkenny.
In the west, there was bad flooding on the main Limerick-Galway road near Labane village. The AA warned of spot flooding and surface water on all routes throughout the day.
