Met Eireann has issued a new weather warning ahead of what is expected to be a very wet weekend. Heavy and persistent rain is forecast to soak the country over the coming days, with the risk of thunderstorms at times.
In anticipation of a particularly bad spell of rain on Friday night into Saturday morning, an eight-hour weather warning has been issued for four counties.
It kicks in from 10pm Friday and lasts until 6am Saturday, affecting Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow. These counties are expected to experience the heaviest downpours, which could cause spot flooding. The Status Yellow alert reads: "Heavy rain at times. Potential impacts: spot flooding."
The warning comes as a deluge of wet and windy weather is set to be unleashed across Ireland this weekend. The national forecaster has warned thunderstorms, hail, heavy showers, spot flooding and strong winds are all on the cards.
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Today will continue blustery and breezy with strong winds, especially along the coasts. Friday will begin dry, before rain moves in from the west, turning heavy at times with possible thunderstorms, hail and spot flooding. The heavy downpours will continue overnight and into Saturday, where showers in the north and west will extend to other areas through the afternoon and evening. Sunday will see sunny spells and scattered showers, which will be heaviest and most frequent over the northern half of the country.
Giving a full breakdown of what to expect, the meteorological agency said: "A blustery and breezy day Thursday with a mix of sunshine and showers. Cloud will increase in the southwest through the afternoon, bringing some light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C in a moderate to fresh and gusty westerly wind, but winds will be strong at times along coasts and very strong along northern coasts. Cloudy with rain or drizzle in the south, clearing early on Thursday night. Clearer elsewhere, with isolated showers mainly in Ulster. Lowest temperatures of 7C to 10C with winds easing light westerly or variable overnight.
"A mainly dry start to Friday morning before slow moving scattered showers move in from the west. Some of the showers will turn heavy with the chance of isolated thunderstorms, hail and spot flooding. Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C with a light southwest or variable breeze. Further heavy scattered showers overnight Friday, merging to longer spells of rain over the north and east which may lead to spot flooding. Lowest temperatures of 6C to 9C with a light to moderate northwesterly wind.
"Cloud and rain will linger in the east at first Saturday morning. Elsewhere will see a mostly dry morning with sunny spells, although there will be some showers in the north and west and these will extend to other areas through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C with a light to moderate west to northwest wind. A mix of clear spells and scattered showers on Saturday night. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 9C with a light westerly breeze.
"Sunny spells and scattered showers again on Sunday, heaviest and most frequent over the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C in a light west to northwest breeze. Showers will become more isolated and die out early on in Sunday night leaving a mostly dry night with clear spells. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 9C in a light northeasterly breeze."
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