Status Orange thunderstorm warning issued for five Irish counties

Keep your eyes on the skies.

The national forecast has issued the Status Orange warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Tipperary and Waterford.

The warning is in place from 1.44pm to 8pm today, and includes the description: "Slow moving thunderstorms with very heavy downpours and hail."

Flash flooding, very difficult traveling conditions with poor visibility and potential damage to power lines are all listed as possible impacts.

A Status Yellow thunderstorm warning is also in place from 1.15pm to 10pm for Leinster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Connacht.

Heavy downpours and thunderstorms are expected, with potential impacts being spot flooding, difficult traveling conditions and poor visibility.

Status Orange thunderstorm warning issued for five Irish counties

In their national forecast for the week ahead Met Éireann say: "Turning mostly dry for the end of the working week with temperatures returning closer to average. Becoming wetter on Saturday.

This evening will see a cloudy night with heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms continuing at first.

The showers will ease and become less frequent overnight, with lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in light northwesterly winds.

Tomorrow, Wednesday will be cloudy with well scattered showers, though showers will be lighter than in previous days.

Patchy light rain and drizzle will push into the northeast tomorrow evening, with highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees in moderate to fresh northwest winds.

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