Met Eireann issues thunderstorm warning for 12 counties

All 12 counties in Leinster are affected by the thunderstorm warning, which came into effect shortly before 2pm on Sunday and will remain in place until 8pm

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow warning to the entire province of Leinster ahead of the arrival of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening.

All 12 counties in the province are affected by the warning, which came into effect shortly before 2pm on Sunday and will remain in place until 8pm.

Met Eireann says there will be a moderate chance of isolated thunderstorms in affected areas, leading to the possibility of localised flooding, poor visibility and difficult driving conditions.

The warning comes as hopes are on the rise for better conditions for the June Bank Holiday weekend next weekend.

Weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather reiterated the chances of better weather for the long weekend than what has been experienced in recent days, saying on Sunday morning that “the bank holiday continues to look positive”.

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Such a forecast echoes the most recent update from Met Eireann, with plenty of dry weather and sunny spells expected in the run-in to next weekend.

The national forecaster has pointed to Wednesday as the day the weather is set to turn, when “a fine and mostly sunny evening is expected” after cloudy skies and scattered showers in the morning and afternoon.

Thursday is expected to bring “plenty of dry weather and just a few passing showers”, with the best of the sunshine expected in the east and south of the country and temperatures reaching highs of 18 degrees.

More of the same is anticipated on Friday, which should be a “mainly dry day” with some isolated showers, moderate northwest winds and highs of between 14 and 17 degrees.

Prior to a likely change in conditions on Wednesday, there will be plenty of wet and stormy conditions to put up with. Lightning and spot flooding is a possibility, particularly over Leinster on what is expected to be a gloomy Sunday evening, with patchy rain and drizzle following on what will be a cloudy day on Monday.

Heavy and thundery downpours will hit the northeast of the country on Tuesday, before showers become more scattered on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

Check out the Met Eireann forecast for the week ahead below.

Sunday

Tonight, scattered heavy showers will die out. There will be some clear spells for a time. However, outbreaks of rain and drizzle will develop in the southwest and west and spread across much of Munster and Connacht overnight. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds.

Monday

Monday morning will be mostly cloudy with patchy rain, drizzle and mist. It will brighten up in the afternoon with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees with moderate south to southwest breezes.

Mostly dry at first on Monday night with mostly clear skies. However, rain will quickly develop in the southwest overnight, before spreading north over the country. The rain will be generally light and patchy in nature but the odd heavy burst is possible. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate southerly winds.

Tuesday

Outbreaks of rain and drizzle over Ulster will clear quickly on Tuesday morning leaving a day of sunshine and scattered showers. A few heavy or thundery downpours are possible, especially in the northeast. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees in fresh southwest breezes. Showers will ease early on Tuesday night but scattered outbreaks of rain will spread from the Atlantic later. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate southwest or variable breezes.

Wednesday

Cloudy skies along with scattered falls of rain and drizzle on Wednesday morning. It will turn brighter into the afternoon with long sunny spells developing with just a few scattered showers. A fine and mostly sunny evening is expected. Maximum temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in moderate to fresh northwest winds.

Largely dry on Wednesday night with clear spells and just a few passing showers. Some areas of mist and fog may develop inland as northerly breezes decrease light over land but remain fresh along windward coasts.

Thursday

A bright day is forecast on Thursday with plenty of dry weather and just a few passing showers. The best of the sunshine is expected in the east and south of the country. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in moderate northerly winds.

Friday

Current indications are for a mainly dry day on Friday with sunny spells and just isolated showers. Highs of 14 to 17 degrees in moderate northwest winds.

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