MET Eireann have issued a warning over “dangerous” weather as “heavy and persistent” rain is set to batter Ireland.
The warning comes amid a status orange rainfall alert in place for two counties and a status yellow warning in place for five more.
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The status orange rain warning is in place for Cork and Kerry from midnight on Saturday morning until 11pm that night.
Met Eireann warned: “Very heavy and persistent rain, with highest accumulations in mountainous areas of Kerry and west Cork.”
The impacts include river and coastal flooding, “dangerous travelling conditions” and travel disruption.
Meanwhile, a status yellow rain warning is in place for Clare, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Mayo from 12am on Saturday morning to 12am on Sunday morning.
Weather bosses advised of “heavy and persistent rain” in these areas.
A yellow weather warning is classed as “not unusual weather” with localised danger by Met Eireann, but the forecasters explained that an orange weather warning signals “infrequent, dangerous or disruptive” conditions.
Before the weather warnings kick in tomorrow, today will also be a “damp” and cloudy day with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle across the country.
Highest temperatures will sit at 14C to 17C for today.
Tonight sees the start of a wet turn, with Met Eireann’s Gerry Murphy warning: “Rain will become persistent in the west and will spread eastwards over Munster and Connacht overnight, turning heavy at times with flooding likely, especially in the southwest.
“Rain will be patchier in Leinster and Ulster and we’ll see lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.”
Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds are also expected on Saturday.
As the weather warning kicks in for Saturday Gerry warned rain will extend to “all areas”.
He said: “That rain will be heavy at times with flooding likely, especially in parts of Munster and Connacht.”
Temperatures will sit at highs of 13C to 15C as the rain batters the country tomorrow.
Saturday night will continue wet with further spells of rain and flooding although it will become “lighter and drier” in the west and southwest.
Lowest temperatures overnight expect at around 9C to 12C.
‘FURTHER SHOWERS’
Unfortunately, even after the warnings lift, rain will continue in an “unsettled” outlook.
Looking to Sunday, Met Eireann said: “On Sunday, rain will gradually clear to the northeast. Sunny spells and showers will follow, some heavy, especially in Munster.
“Highest temperatures of 15C to 17C with light to moderate southerly winds, fresher for the west and southwest.
“There will be further showers on Sunday night, heaviest in the south. Lowest temperatures of 7C to 11C with light to moderate southeast breezes.”
THUNDER THREAT
And Monday will bring further heavy rain with flooding possible in Munster and south Leinster where rain is heaviest.
Gerry warned: “Further heavy showers at times through Monday and Tuesday.”
Temperatures on Monday between 14C to 17C with moderate southeasterly winds, fresher near coasts.
On Tuesday even more poor weather is set to hit with a chance of thunderstorms.
These isolated thunderstorms will be coupled with “heavy” showers in 14C to 16C temperatures.
