Met Éireann issues nationwide warning for rain and thunderstorms

Met Éireann has issued a nationwide status yellow weather warning for rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday night.

It said there would be widespread showers and thunderstorms with longer spells of rain at times. There is also potential for localised flooding, especially in the northwest. The warning is in place until 7am on Thursday.

More generally, the forecaster said there would be heavy showers or thunderstorms and hail, gradually easing in the south on Wednesday evening, leaving good sunny spells.

Heavy showers or longer spells of rain will continue to affect northern parts through much of the evening along with a continued risk of spot flooding. Highest temperatures will range from 15 to 19 degrees, in moderate to fresh west to northwest winds.

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It will be mostly cloudy on Thursday with scattered outbreaks of rain mainly in the north and west.

It will be drier and milder further southeast with well scattered showers and hazy sunny spells. However there is the chance of showers or isolated thunderstorms affecting southern coasts towards Thursday evening.

Top temperatures will range from 15 to 19 degrees in a moderate to occasionally fresh westerly breeze.