Heavy rain forecast as weather warning takes effect
Most of the country is under a 'Status Yellow' rain warning today with spells of heavy rain forecast.
It came into effect at 2am this morning and will remain in place until 7pm.
The warning by Met Éireann covers Leinster, Cavan and Monaghan, Munster and Connacht.
The national weather forecaster is warning of blustery conditions with a risk of localised flooding and poor visibility. Motorists are being advised of "difficult travelling conditions".
Bands of rain, heavy at times, will spread across the country this morning, bringing the risk of localised flooding. By this afternoon the rain will begin to clear away from the south but isolated showers, possibly heavy and thundery at times, will linger. Easterly winds will be fresh and gusty then later change southwesterly as the rain clears. Highest temperatures of 13 to 19 degrees.
Bands of rain will continue to move over northern counties tonight, followed by isolated showers in the south. Some clear and dry spells will develop in the south and east overnight as showers die out. Gusty southwesterly winds but fresh to strong easterlies in the north. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.
Tomorrow, Saturday, is due to be a blustery day with widespread showers, some heavy at times. Fresh to strong westerly winds will continue through the day and will be strong at times especially near the coasts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees.
Heavy showers at times over the rest of the weekend with unsettled weather continuing into next week.
Wet and windy during Saturday night. Widespread showers across the country where some will be heavy and possibly thundery in the south. Breezy too with fresh to strong west to northwest winds and overnight lows of 9 to 12 degrees.
Staying wet and rather windy on Sunday as showers continue to feed in across the country. Some of the showers will be heavy and thundery during the afternoon and evening. Staying windy too with moderate to fresh westerlies and highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees.
The showers will gradually become isolated later in the evening with some clear and dry spells developing in the east. Westerly breezes will slowly weaken with lowest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees.
Monday is set to be a cloudy day with isolated showers to begin. Showers becoming more widespread as the day progresses with limited sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees with light winds.
Showers will slowly clear later Monday evening with good clear and dry spells developing. Winds will fall light overnight too with lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees. Rain will move over southern counties towards dawn together with strengthening easterly winds.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, wet and breezy conditions are forecast across southern counties during the morning but elsewhere it will be a mix of cloud and isolated showers. Winds generally light across northern areas too with highs of 15 to 19 degrees.