Met Éireann issues new weather warning with two areas to be battered over three days

On the back of Storm Babet during the week, Met Éireann has issued a fresh weather warning for almost half of the country on Sunday and Monday.

The national forecaster has acted quickly to issue the Status Yellow rain warning for Munster and Connacht with the same counties impacted most by Storm Babet flooding to be lashed with rain again.

Met Éireann predicts "rain, heavy at times with the chance of thunder" and warn of possible impacts including "localised flooding and difficult travel conditions."

The warning for both provinces is in place from 6pm on Sunday until 4am on Tuesday.

In its wider forecast, Met Éireann says Saturday night will be dry in most places "with a few showers scattered about," although "these are most likely in southwestern and southern coastal counties and near northern and northwestern coasts."

"Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees, perhaps lower locally in the midlands, with a touch of frost possible. Winds will be mainly light southwest or variable, which will allow a few mist and fog patches to form."

For Sunday, they say things will begin "largely dry, fine and crisp" before rain comes in and those warnings come into effect.

They say there will be "a few morning mist and fog patches and the odd light shower near northern and western coasts. Staying mainly dry and bright in the east and north, but cloud will gradually build across the south and west as the day goes on. Outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain will push in across the southwest through the late afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate east to southeast breezes.

"Outbreaks of rain will continue to extend northeastwards on Sunday night with some heavy bursts, bringing a risk of spot flooding. There is still a degree of uncertainty with regard to how far east the rain will get on Sunday night, and there is a chance that the rain will stall or become slow-moving as it tracks over the country. Lowest temperatures will range 5 to 10 degrees, coolest in the northeast. Light to moderate east to southeast breezes."

Looking to next week, they add: "Current indications for Monday suggest a damp or wet day for most with outbreaks of rain turning heavy and possibly thundery at times, with spot flooding possible. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in a light or moderate east to southeast breeze.

"Mostly cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Mist and fog patches too. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees generally, with light easterly breezes.

"A mix of bright spells and showers on Tuesday. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in light winds.

"Any showers dying out early on Tuesday night and becoming mainly dry for a time with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Cloud will thicken from the west overnight with outbreaks of rain spreading from the Atlantic. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. Southeasterly breezes developing overnight.

"Current indications suggest it'll turn wet and breezy with a spell of rain sweeping northeastwards over the country followed by showers [on Wednesday]. Highest temperatures 11 to 15 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly winds veering southwest with the clearance of the rain."

It seems the bad weather is here to stay as beyond the middle of next week, Met Éireann says "low pressure is likely to continue to dominate, bringing spells of wet and sometimes windy weather."