Heavy rain on the way this afternoon

Status Yellow warnings from Met Éireann

Spells of heavy rainfall are being forecast from this afternoon into Saturday morning as Met Éireann has issued two status yellow rain warnings.

The first is for Cavan and Connacht. It will come into effect at 2pm today and remain in place until 9am on Saturday.

The national weather forecaster is warning of spot flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.

The second status yellow rainfall warning applies to Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Monaghan.

It's valid from 6pm this afternoon until 1pm on Saturday.

The general weather forecast is predicting a very mixed August Bank Holiday weekend. It will be wet and windy for a time Friday night and Saturday morning with yellow level rain and wind warnings in operation, followed by sunshine and showers with further persistent rain coming through on Monday.

Today (Friday) will be mainly dry and bright to begin with sunny spells and isolated showers. However, cloud will gradually thicken with outbreaks of rain developing in the west and southwest this afternoon, extending eastwards later, with spot flooding likely. Highs of 15 to 18 degrees. Light to moderate westerly breezes will back south to southeast later.

Cloudy and wet on Friday night with outbreaks of heavy rain, giving rise to spot flooding. It will turn windy at times overnight, especially in the southwest towards dawn. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

Wet and blustery to begin on Saturday, windiest across southern parts of the country, with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, clearing eastwards through the morning. Brighter and drier conditions with scattered showers in the west will gradually extend to all parts by the early afternoon. Strong and gusty northwest winds in the south, moderate to fresh elsewhere, will ease by the early afternoon. Highs of 14 to 18 degrees.

Dry in many areas on Saturday night with clear spells with showers becoming increasingly confined to Atlantic coastal counties. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate westerly winds.

Sunday will be a bright day with a mix of sunshine and showers. The showers will be heaviest and most frequent in north and east. Maximum temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in light to moderate west to northwest breezes.

Mostly dry on Sunday night with clear spells and just a few showers in the northwest. Cloud will thicken in the west and southwest overnight with patchy rain and drizzle developing towards dawn. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in light southwest or variable breezes.

Bank Holiday Monday: Cloudy or becoming mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the west and southwest spreading to all areas through the afternoon and evening. The rain will be heavy in places, with potential for spot flooding. Cool for the time of year, with maximum temperatures of just 14 to 17 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, fresh to strong at times near western and southwestern coasts.

Further outbreaks of rain and drizzle on Monday night, becoming lighter and patchier as the night goes on. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees with light to moderate southwest or variable winds.

Current indications suggest patchy rain and drizzle will linger through Tuesday but some brighter, sunnier intervals may develop during the afternoon. Winds will be light to moderate, westerly in direction. Highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees.

Further Outlook: Continuing changeable, but warmer and somewhat drier conditions are signalled, at least for a time, through midweek next week.