Washout weekend as Met Éireann's grim forecast features plenty of rain, thunder and floods

Much of Ireland is facing a soggy weekend as Met Éireann warns of heavy rain, isolated thunderstorms, and the risk of spot flooding, with the worst of the weather expected to hit the southern counties first.

A Status Yellow warning is now in effect for Cork and Kerry from 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday, with the national forecaster warning of "spells of heavy rain with possible isolated thunderstorms."

They add the potential impacts include "spot flooding, poor visibility, [and] difficult travel conditions."

In Saturday's national forecast, Met Éireann says: "Today will bring bright spells and some showers for much of Ireland. Early this morning, rain will develop in the southwest and will spread slowly over Munster today with spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms possible."

That rain will extend into south Leinster and south Connacht by evening, with top temperatures of 16 to 21 degrees and moderate southeast winds.

Saturday night will be wet across the southern half of the country, with "heavy rain at times and spot flooding possible", while "further north, it will be drier with isolated showers." Temperatures will dip to 11 to 15 degrees with light to moderate breezes.

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The rain isn't going anywhere fast. On Sunday, "there'll be rain in Munster and Leinster, possibly heavy at times," according to the forecaster. As the day goes on, the rain will "extend slowly westwards across Ulster and east Connacht," though "west Connacht and northwest Ulster will be mainly dry." Temperatures will hover between 17 and 21 degrees, with light northerly winds.

And it doesn't stop there as "Sunday night will be mostly cloudy with showers or longer spells of rain," says Met Éireann, with lowest temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees.

Monday will continue mostly cloudy, bringing "showers or longer spells of rain, heaviest over the eastern half of the country." Top temperatures will range from 16 to 20 degrees, with moderate to fresh westerly winds.

However, it's not all doom and gloom, as drier weather is expected to develop over the southern half of the country by Monday night, although rain will linger further north.

By Tuesday and Wednesday, the forecast shows some signs of a break in the unsettled conditions. Met Éireann says "sunny spells and scattered showers" will become the norm, with daytime temperatures settling between 15 and 20 degrees.

So while the umbrellas are staying up for now, there's a glimmer of brighter skies for the week ahead.

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