Weather warnings have been issued for 13 counties for Sunday with heavy rain forecast to result in flooding and difficult travel conditions in Munster and much of Leinster, according to Met Éireann.
A status orange warning, the forecaster’s second highest alert level, has been issued for Cork and Waterford from 8am to 6pm on Sunday, with some intense and thundery downpours expected to lead to flooding and travel disruption.
A separate orange warning has been put in place for counties Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny, with similar issues expected between 1pm and midnight on Sunday.
A less severe yellow warning has been issued for Munster as a whole, with heavy rain and strong and gusty winds expected between 5am and 8pm on Sunday. The forecaster said this could lead to localised flooding, difficult travel conditions and fallen branches and trees in some areas.
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A separate yellow alert, warning of strong winds and heavy rain, will come into effect for counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow from noon on Sunday to 2am on Monday, with these areas also deemed to be at risk of having localised flooding, travel disruption and fallen debris on roads.
The Road Safety Authority advised people taking to the roads to exercise caution on Sunday and Monday, with those in areas under orange warnings recommended to check local traffic and weather conditions before departing.
A small craft warning will come into effect for all Irish coasts from 10pm on Saturday to 2am on Monday. Status yellow marine gale warnings have been issued from Carnsore Point to Mizen Head to Rossan Point, where east to southeast winds will reach gale force 8 or 9 from 3am to 6pm on Sunday.
A separate status yellow marine alert will cover Belfast Lough to Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point and on the Irish Sea, where south-easterly winds are forecast to reach gale force 8 between noon on Sunday and 2am on Monday.
Saturday is to see a mix of cloudy and sunny spells with a few scattered showers and highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. Met Éireann said conditions would become cloudy overnight as the heavy rain moves in across Munster. The rest of the country will stay largely dry apart from isolated showers, with lowest temperatures of 4 to 10 degrees.
The rain is to gradually clear from the southeast on Sunday night, with dry conditions developing across most of the country. However, further outbreaks of showers will move into the northwest later.
Monday is to be mostly cloudy with some rain and showers expected, though conditions will become drier and brighter in the south through the afternoon.
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