Status orange weather warning: Thunder, lightning and very heavy downpours expected

Thunderstorms, very heavy downpours and potential flash flooding is predicted across seven counties throughout Saturday evening as Met Éireann has upgraded the weather warning to status orange.

There were reports of significant localised flooding in parts of Kerry including Tralee.

An earlier yellow weather warning was in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Connacht, with Met Éireann flagging there could be significant rain, thunder and lightning, gusty winds and a chance of hail.

However, a further status orange thunderstorm warning was issued this afternoon for Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Connacht, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath. Met Éireann said that very heavy showers could produce significant rainfall accumulations over short time periods, leading to flash flooding.

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Nationally, there were some dry intervals across the country in the early afternoon, with more heavy and thundery showers developing later with hail and spot flooding possible. Highs of 18 to 22 degrees in moderate southerly winds.

Scattered showers will continue on Saturday night across much of the northern half of the country, continuing to turn heavy and thundery with hail and spot flooding possible. The showers will gradually die out late in the night with mist and fog patches developing. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees with light winds.

Sunday will be generally cloudy with showers. Some of the showers will turn heavy and possibly thundery during the afternoon and evening with spot flooding a risk. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees with light to moderate southeast winds.

[ Check the weather forecast ]

Widespread showers will develop across the country by Monday morning. They will become persistent and possibly heavy at times in the afternoon and evening. Isolated thunderstorms are possible also. They may cause spot flooding. Highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees with a light to moderate southerly breeze.

Showers will begin to die out early on Monday night from the north and across the midlands, but will linger around coastal fringes in the south and west. It is expected to stay mild overnight with lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees with light and variable breezes.

The weather on Tuesday and Wednesday looks set to remain unsettled. On Tuesday, showers are expected around coastal counties, slowly spreading throughout the country during the afternoon and evening. It is due to be little cooler than recent days with highs of 18 to 21 degrees. Light to moderate southerly breezes, fresh at times in the south.

On Tuesday night the showers will slowly become more isolated before clear spells develop across the midlands and north. A few showers will linger around the coasts. Lowest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. Low pressure will continue to dominate the weather on Wednesday. Cloudy with showers, some heavy and possibly thundery during the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will reach around 18 to 22 degrees with light westerly breezes.