As a result, Met Éireann has issued an orange status wind warning for counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, with a yellow wind warning in place for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.

Winds in the west, where the orange warning is in place, are forecast to reach mean speeds of 65km/h to 80km/h with gusts of 120km/h possible at times. These high winds are expected to occur between 4pm and 9pm on Wednesday. Even when the winds are not at their strongest, they are predicted to reach mean speeds of 60km/h to 65km/h, gusting 100km/h to 110km/h.

The most recent storm to hit Ireland, Storm Desmond, brought winds of a similar speed. This storm, however, also brought excessive rainfall, which resulted in widespread flooding and huge devastation for landowners, homeowners and businesses right across the country. Farmers in parts of the north, west and south are still dealing with the impact of major flooding on their land.

Eva is not expected to carry anywhere near as much rainfall as Desmond, but rain will accompany the winds due to hit the country on Wednesday. Although daytime Wednesday will be mainly dry and bright in many areas with sunny spells and scattered showers, rain and very strong winds will move in to the west and northwest during the afternoon with gale force southerly winds developing.

It will also be very wet and windy countrywide on Wednesday evening, with gale force southerly winds and some very severe gusts in exposed western and northern areas.

Looking ahead to Christmas Eve, the day will be cold with a mix of sunny spells and blustery showers. Some of the showers will be of hail or sleet, especially in the west and north. Daytime temperatures will reach just 4°C to 7°C with fresh, gusty southwest winds.

Christmas Eve night will be mainly dry with clear spells, but there will still be some showers in the west. It will be cold with lowest temperatures of 0°C to 3°C degrees and with frost developing in places.

Christmas Day will start off cold, bright and sunny in many areas. However, wet and windy weather will develop in the southwest by around noon and will spread northeastwards to all areas through the afternoon and evening. Daytime temperatures of 5°C to 10°C degrees with strengthening southerly winds.

St Stephen's Day will be mild and breezy. It will be mostly cloudy and mainly dry. Patchy rain or drizzle may affect southern and western coastal areas at times. Highest temperatures of 11°C to 14°C with fresh southerly winds.

Met Éireann adds that the early days of next week will continue mild and unsettled with wet and windy weather at times.