Heavy rain will continue in Ireland; Orange alert for 13 counties

Dublin: An orange alert has been issued in 13 counties due to the possibility of heavy rain with thunder and lightning. Met Erran has warned that up to 50 mm of rain will fall in these counties. Thunderstorms are likely on Sunday morning. Flooding is possible in low-lying areas, Met Erran said.

The Orange rain warning was issued for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford and will last from 4am-8am on Sunday morning.

The national forecaster said up to 50mm of intense rainfall will hit the affected counties, including Co Laois, where thousands are camping at the Electric Picnic festival this weekend.

A Status Yellow rain warning will also take effect from 1am on Sunday and will last until 10am and covers the entire country.

The national forecaster stated in an update on Saturday that there would be localised bursts of torrential rain at times, and that this may cause surface flooding in certain areas.

70,000 people are attending Electric Picnic this weekend in Stradbally, Co. Laois, and Met Éireann had earlier issued a warning about potential disruption due to the bad weather.

On Saturday night and into Sunday, there is a chance of thunderstorms, lightning, and at times very heavy rain.

At first, there will be clear periods and isolated showers, but later on, a persistent showery rain will spread across the nation, accompanied by local thunder and escalating southeasterly winds. According to forecaster Conall Ruth, the rain will be very intense in some areas, increasing the risk of localised flooding and lightning strikes.

"Much of the country will experience heavy rain tonight that will travel north before clearing on Sunday morning. Surface flooding is predicted to occur as a result of some particularly heinous downpours. Additionally, there is a chance for lightning strikes and thunderstorm activity, according to Met Éireann's amended yellow weather advisory on Saturday morning.

On Sunday morning, the thunder and lightning that had been accompanying the heavy rain will move to the northwest, but the southeasterly winds will still be in some places very gusty.

Before a second band of heavy rain moves in from the southwest, Sunday afternoon and early evening will be mostly bright with only sporadic showers.

Next week is expected to be quite erratic in terms of weather, with rain and wind predominating.

On Monday and Tuesday of next week, there will likely be bright periods interspersed with sporadic showers.