Status orange thunderstorm and rain warning now in effect for the entire country

Tue, 20 Jun, 2023 - 13:55

Imasha Costa

Power outages and flash flooding is expected after Met Éireann announced a status orange thunderstorm and rain warning for the entire country.

As the week of unsettled weather continues, Met Éireann says the alert is now in effect and will stay in place until 6pm tonight.

Thunderstorms and very heavy showers will produce "significant rainfall accumulations over short time periods", said Met Éireann.

The national forecaster has warned that some of the possible impacts of the status orange warning include flash flooding, very difficult travelling conditions with reduced visibility and power outages.

The thunderstorms could also bring the possibility of hail in the afternoon and evening.

Once the orange warning lifts, a yellow warning, for all of Leinster, Munster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo will remain in place until 10pm.

Dublin Fire Brigade are urging drivers to drive slowly and "avoid a bow wave" and to test car brakes when leaving the water.

It comes as firefighters in Dublin have responded to spot flooding in the city centre following heavy rain.

We're responding to spot flooding across the city following heavy rain after a #thunderstorm

🚗 Drive through slowly, avoid a bow wave

💧 test your brakes when you leave the water

📽️ Dolphins Barn firefighters at pluvial flooding today@MetEireann pic.twitter.com/RHx1g7P20n
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) June 20, 2023

Meanwhile, a yellow thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland has been issued by the UK Met Office.

"Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop in a few places," the alert says. That warning is currently in place and will stay in place until 8pm on Tuesday.

Flooding on South Mall in Cork at high tide following heavy rain. Picture: Denis Minihane

Elsewhere, temperatures of 18C to 22C are expected on Tuesday with the thundery showers beginning to ease tonight. It will become mostly confined to "northern and Atlantic coastal areas though isolated showers may continue further inland".

Wednesday should see the return of some showers which will turn heavy or possibly thundery later in the afternoon and evening.

Met Éireann said drier conditions with better sunshine will gradually build from the west through the day with showers staying mostly confined to southern and eastern counties.

Looking ahead, the national forecaster says Thursday should be the driest day of the week, with just "well scattered showers, not as heavy or as widespread as previous days with plenty of dry intervals in between".

Unsettled weather conditions are set to return for the rest of the week with showers expected. Friday will see a wet day with outbreaks of rain bringing some heavy falls and the chance of localised flooding, while temperatures will reach highs of 23C.

Heading into next weekend, there is "some uncertainty in the details" but Saturday and Sunday will be generally unsettled with spells of rain and showers.