CARLOW WEATHER: Sunshine today, March 16, but thunderstorms could arrive on St Patricks' Day

There will be mixed weather today, March 16, but the general outlook for St Patrick's Day is not a good one with a chance of thunderstorms. 

Met Éireann predicts that rain will clear away to the north and east this Thursday morning, followed by sunny spells and isolated showers.

Highest temperatures will reach 13C in Carlow from 2-3 pm, falling back to 11C by midnight. 

Heaviest rain will fall in Carlow on St Patrick's Day from 6 am through to shortly after 12 noon. 

Some showers will be heavy with thunderstorms and hail possible later in the afternoon and evening, especially in the north midlands and east Ulster. Mild with highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees in moderate to fresh south to southwest winds, easing later are forecast.

Clear spells are predicted tonight with showers or longer spells of rain. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coldest in the north and northeast. Mist and isolated fog patches will form in mostly moderate south to southeast winds.

Tomorrow will see a mix of cloudy and some sunny spells with widespread showers on St. Patrick's Day. The showers will be heavy and prolonged at times with a chance of thunderstorms.

Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees are forecast in mostly moderate south to southeast winds, decreasing light later.