Severe rain warning for Cork and Kerry as weekend washout looms

Met Éireann warns of thundery downpours, localised flooding, and hazardous driving conditions across Munster as multiple rain alerts issued

The rain will lead to localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions. Picture: Chani Anderson

An orange rain warning has been issued for Cork, with heavy rain, thundery downpours, and possible flooding expected overnight on Saturday.

The Met Éireann warning will be in place from 9pm on Saturday until 5am on Sunday, with forecasters warning of river flooding and “very difficult” travelling conditions.

A status yellow rain warning will also apply to Cork and Kerry between 5pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday, bringing spells of heavy rain and isolated thundery downpours, along with localised flooding and poor travel conditions.

A second yellow warning for Waterford will be in effect from 8pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday, with similar weather impacts expected.

⚠️Status Yellow Rainfall Warnings issued for Cork, Kerry & Waterford🌧️⚠️

➡️Cork and Kerry: valid from 17:00 tomorrow Sat, 18th Oct until 05:00 Sun 19th Oct.

➡️Waterford: valid from 20:00 tomorrow Sat, 18th Oct until 08:00 Sun 19th Oct.

🔗https://t.co/t2JoveRUyC pic.twitter.com/fkvjJdMB3r

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 17, 2025

Met Éireann says Friday will be mainly dry and cloudy, with limited bright or sunny spells and the odd patch of drizzle or mist. 

Highest temperatures will range from 12C to 16C.

Overnight, conditions will remain mostly cloudy and dry, apart from occasional drizzle and mist. Outbreaks of rain will move into western and southwestern coasts around dawn, with temperatures falling to between 9C and 13C.

Saturday is forecast to be dull and breezy, with scattered outbreaks of rain in the west and southwest early in the day, spreading northeastwards across the country. 

The rain will turn heavier in the south and southwest by evening. Daytime temperatures will reach 12C to 15C.

Saturday night will be wet and blustery, with heavy and persistent rain becoming widespread early in the night.

Thundery bursts and spot flooding are likely, though rain will clear from the west and southwest by morning. Temperatures will range from 10C to 13C, with fresh to strong gusty southeasterly winds, easing and turning southwest in Munster and Connacht by morning.

On Sunday, Met Éireann forecasts heavy and persistent rain in the north and east early in the day, with further thundery falls and localised flooding possible. 

The rain will clear northeastwards through the morning, followed by sunshine and showers from the southwest, some heavy at times. Daytime temperatures will range from 14C to 17C.

Sunday night will bring clear spells and scattered showers for most areas, though longer spells of rain are expected in the south and southwest later in the night, with temperatures between 7C and 10C.