Temperatures to plunge within days amid brutal 'unsettled' Ireland weather forecast

Temperatures could plunge again across Ireland in the coming days after the country is lashed with two days or heavy rain.

Met Éireann has already issued a series of weather warnings for rain, including a Status Orange warning for Cork and Kerry, but that deluge could be followed by cold temperatures.

The weather warnings in place cover much of the country with Cork and Kerry under a Status Orange rainfall warning from 6am on Tuesday until 6am on Wednesday.

The warning predicts "spells of heavy rain from 6am on Tuesday to 6am on Wednesday with blustery east to southeast winds at times."

Met Éireann warns of impacts including "localised flooding, poor visibility, difficult driving conditions and possible Wave overtopping at high tide."

A Status Yellow rain warning has also been issued for Connacht, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford. The warning for Connacht lasts from noon on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday, while the warning for the other counties across Munster and Leinster will stay in place from 6am Tuesday until 6am Wednesday.

In its wider forecast, Met Éireann says it will be "milder but unsettled with rain and showers every day."

Looking closer to the weekend, it will stay "unsettled with further spells of rain and showers, turning cooler too," according to Met Éireann.

They say Monday night "will be mainly dry with clear spells over the northern half of the country and lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with frost possible. Thickening cloud in the south will extend northwards overnight. Milder in the south with lows of 7 to 12 degrees. Light to moderate easterly winds will increase fresh in the southwest overnight.

"Tuesday will become wet and breezy. Through the morning, rain will spread across Munster, south Leinster and parts of south Connacht and then extend across the rest of the country during the afternoon. The rain will be heavy and thundery at times with localised flooding possible, especially in the southwest. Highest temperatures of 9 to 14 degrees with fresh, gusty east to southeast winds.

"It will continue wet and breezy on Tuesday night with strong easterly winds for a time in the north, and with heavy rain moving northwards, followed by scattered showers. The rain may cause localised flooding. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty east to southeast wind, strong in coastal areas.

"Wednesday will see further heavy rain moving north with spot flooding likely. The wet weather becoming mainly confined to the east and north during the evening. Milder than recent days, with highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees, in a moderate to fresh and gusty east to southeast wind, easing in southern areas later.

"On Wednesday night there will be more outbreaks of rain and it will be generally cloudy with some mist and fog. Heavy rain will continue in the northeast. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees in a light to moderate easterly or variable wind.

"Thursday morning will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Through the afternoon the rain will clear northwards, followed by scattered heavy showers and some sunny intervals. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in a light to moderate easterly wind.

"Mostly cloudy with scattered showers [Thursday night], some turning heavy. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in a light to moderate easterly wind."

On Friday, forecasters foresee "sunny spells and scattered heavy showers or longer spells of rain. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in a mostly light to moderate easterly wind, possibly strengthening in the west."