Irish weather: Met Éireann issues thunderstorm warning for five counties

The warning, which came into effect shortly after 1pm, will bring "scattered thunderstorms" to counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois and Offaly.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow thunderstorm warning for five counties on Monday.

The warning, which came into effect shortly after 1pm, will bring "scattered thunderstorms" to Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois and Offaly.

Lightning and spot flooding are also possible until the warning comes to an end at 8pm.

More generally, after days of endless blue skies and sunshine, the country is set for the return of the rain this week. 

According to Met Éireann, there will be some heavy showers to start the week, but "mainly dry and sunny weather returning around midweek". However, by the weekend, the weather is going to turn "mixed and changeable", and temperatures will return to near average.

Monday will be "mostly sunny" with some cloud and isolated showers near the east coast.

The showers will develop across central and southern parts of the country on Monday afternoon and evening. Some may be heavy with spot flooding, and isolated thunderstorms possible.

Temperatures will reach highs of 22C but will fall back to lows of just 3C to 8C by Monday night. Most places will become dry overnight, with patchy cloud and clear breaks, with "just the odd shower possible".

Tuesday will be "largely dry", with variable cloud and sunshine, but "showers will soon develop". Most of them will be heavy with spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms possible again.

Clouds will "gradually build" from the southwest during the afternoon, and "patchy rain and drizzle" will push into Munster during the evening. Highest temperatures of 16C to 20C are expected.

Tuesday night will see "largely dry and clear conditions" with "some mist and shallow fog forming around dawn".

On Wednesday, any residual cloud and patchy rain and drizzle in the south will clear to leave a "dry and mostly sunny day" with just the chance of "a few showers bubbling up in southern counties".

Temperatures could reach as high as 22C but it will be cooler in north Ulster, with highs of 14C to 16C predicted there.

There will be "patchy cloud and clear breaks" on Wednesday night, with isolated mist patches around dawn. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 9C are forecast.

Thursday will be "another largely dry day with patchy cloud and sunny spells". Just the "odd light shower" will be possible, and light to moderate northerly winds will bring a "fresher feel" to northern parts of Ulster and Connacht as well as near the Leinster coast. Maximum temperatures will range from 17C to 21C. 

Current indications suggest Friday will be another mainly dry day with sunny spells in the east, before cloud increases later.

The west will experience mostly cloudy conditions, however, and outbreaks of rain may push in from the Atlantic later in the day. Highest temperatures of 14C to 18C are on the cards.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the forecaster says the weather will be "mixed and changeable", with spells of rain or showers. Some brighter or sunnier spells are possible but Met Éireann says temperatures "will return to near average".

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