Motorists warned of slippy roads as rain forecast

Met Éireann and the National Safety Council issued warnings last night to motorists take care as heavy rain is forecast over the weekend.

It is predicted roads will be at their slippiest across the country over the next 24 hours as heavy rainfall is forecast to drench the country starting in the west this evening and spreading countrywide tomorrow.

"We haven't had any significant rainfall in at least four weeks now," a Met Éireann forecaster said last night, warning that "when you get rain after a dry spell the roads get very greasy with oil and accumulated dirt".

"There is also the possibility that reaction times will be slower too," he said.

The heavy rainfall will ease off on Saturday but expect a long, wet day on Sunday.