Deirdre O Meara 
Met Eireann has issued a sudden weather warning for nine counties in Ireland. The Status Yellow alert will last for 150 minutes, expiring at 5 pm today. The affected counties are Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow, Cavan, and Monaghan. The warning states that “some thunderstorm activity this afternoon with lightning and heavy downpours locally.” After the warning expires, the rest of the evening is expected to be wet with a risk of flooding.
The overall forecast for the country predicts a mix of bright spells and heavy showers today with the risk of surface water flooding. Thunderstorm activity is expected, especially in Leinster and Ulster. The highest temperatures will range from 13C to 17C, with the coolest temperatures along the Atlantic coasts, in light to moderate westerly breezes. Showers will become lighter and more isolated overnight, with dry conditions for many areas. The lowest temperatures will range from 7C to 10C, with mainly light westerly breezes.
From tomorrow, the weather is expected to take a positive turn, with dry, calm, and mild conditions for a few days. However, unsettled conditions are forecast to return towards the end of the week. Monday will be mostly dry, with just a slight chance of lingering showers early on. The morning will be cloudy for many areas, although it will brighten as the day goes on, with decent sunny spells developing. The highest temperatures will range from 13C to 17C, with light northwesterly breezes. Monday night will be mostly dry with clear spells, and some mist and fog will form as winds fall light variable or calm. It will be a chiller night, with lows of 2C to 6C for the northern half of the country, generally holding between 7C and 9C further south.
On Tuesday, there will be hazy sunshine in the morning, but clouds will increase from the southwest through the afternoon. Most areas will be dry, with just the chance of a few stray patches of drizzle near western coasts later. It will be mild, with highs of 14C to 18C, in mostly light south to southeast winds. Tuesday night will be mostly cloudy, with some patchy outbreaks of light rain and drizzle in Munster and Connacht. It will be a milder night once again, with lowest temperatures of 7C to 10C in light to moderate southeast winds.
Wednesday will be quite dull, with some patchy light rain or drizzle mostly in Connacht and Ulster. Temperatures will drop back to between 11C to 15C, coolest along eastern coasts, in moderate to occasionally fresh southeast winds. It will remain cloudy Wednesday night, and most areas will have a dry night. However, there will be a chance of some patchy rain or drizzle in the southwest. The lowest temperatures will range from 6C to 9C, with moderate southeast winds.
Thursday will be mostly cloudy, with southeasterly winds freshening as patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle spread from the south through the afternoon and evening. The highest temperatures will range from 10C to 15C, mildest in Connacht. Friday and the weekend look a little more unsettled, with some heavy thundery showers or longer spells of rain at times. Temperatures will generally be near average for the time of year.
In conclusion, the weather in Ireland is expected to be unsettled for the next few days, with a risk of flooding in some areas. However, there will also be periods of dry, calm, and mild conditions. It is advisable to stay up to date with the latest weather warnings and forecasts from Met Eireann.
