Met Éireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for nine counties this afternoon. The affected counties are Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Wicklow, Tipperary, and Waterford. The warning, in effect from 1 pm to 7 pm, advises of poor visibility, lightning damage, and hazardous travel conditions.
Heavy rain is forecasted for the weekend, with some showers turning into thundery downpours. Friday morning will have the best weather, but showers will become heavy with possible hail by the afternoon, especially in the midlands, south, and east. Blustery winds and temperatures between 13°C and 16°C are expected, with more showers and temperatures of 6°C to 9°C overnight.
Saturday will be drier and brighter, but rain could turn thundery and heavy in the afternoon. Temperatures will range from 14°C to 17°C. Overnight, it will be mostly dry with some drizzle and temperatures between 7°C and 10°C.
Sunday’s weather will be best in the south with sunny spells and some heavy showers, while the north will be cloudy with rain. Daytime temperatures will be between 14°C and 18°C, dropping to 9°C to 12°C overnight.
Next week starts cloudy with patchy rain, but the south will see some sunny spells on Monday. Temperatures will range from 14°C to 19°C. The week will remain changeable, with a mix of dry spells and showers.