Five counties warned of flooding risk as heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Five counties are bracing for possible thunderstorms as Met Éireann issued a rain warning for the south-east.

There is a risk of localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow from midday on Thursday.

The status yellow warning expires at 3am on Friday.

Met Éireann said there would be “spells of heavy rain with a possibility of thunderstorms” throughout that period.

More generally, it forecast: “Thursday will start off dry in many areas.

“Rain across southern fringes will slowly extend to eastern and southern counties, heavy at times with the chance of thunderstorms and the potential for surface flooding.

“Drier and warmer across west and north-west counties with some sunny spells but the odd thundery shower may occur too. Highest temperatures of 18 to 24C.”

It added: “Scattered outbreaks of rain will affect the country, locally heavy and thundery with the potential for some thunderstorms.

“However, it will likely become drier across the western half of the country.

“Patches of mist or fog may form in light variable, mainly westerly breezes. Lowest temperatures of 13 to 16C.”

Scattered showers – some heavy and thundery – appear to be on the cards into the weekend, with the weather agency also advising that current indications suggest “the early days of next week will continue unsettled with rain or showers at times”.