Status yellow rain warning issued for two counties

Ellen O'Donoghue

A status yellow weather warning has been issued for two counties.

Met Éireann issued the warning for Cork and Kerry shortly before 9am on Monday.

The warning is valid from 2am until 8am on Tuesday.

The forecaster said that a spell of heavy rain can be expected, coupled with strong and gusty east to southeast winds.

Potential impacts include localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

On Monday, widespread rain over the course of the morning is expected to gradually clear northeastwards throughout the day, but will continue in Ulster and north Leinster into the evening.

Sunny spells are to develop across the west and southwest on Monday, with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, and light variable winds.

Any lingering rain or drizzle in Ulster is to mostly clear during the first half of Monday night, leaving mainly dry and cold conditions with clear spells, allowing some patches of frost and ice to form.

Some mist and fog patches are also expected to develop in light variable winds.

Cloud will build from the southwest, however, through the second half of the night, with wet and windy conditions following towards morning. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees can be expected.

Tuesday is expected to start off cloudy with wet and windy conditions moving northwards over the country, with heavy rain at times.

It is expected to clear to dry conditions with sunny spells before showers or further spells of rain push in from the south. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees are forecast, with fresh to strong and gusty easterly winds easing with the clearance of the rain.

On Tuesday night, breezy weather with scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain and limited clear spells can be expected. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees are forecast, with moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly winds.

Current indications by Met Éireann for Wednesday state that further north will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, while further south will be cloudier with more persistent outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees can be expected, with moderate to fresh easterly winds, stronger on southern and eastern coasts.

Widespread showers or more persistent spells of rain with limited clear spells are forecast for Wednesday night, with lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with light to moderate cyclonic variable winds.