LAST UPDATE | 18 Oct

MET ÉIREANN HAS extended its Status Orange rain warning in Co Cork tonight to Co Waterford.

Met Éireann says there’s a possibility of river flooding, especially in mountainous areas, and advised that travelling in the weather will be very difficult.

The warning will be in place from 8pm tonight until 5am on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, a Status Yellow weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

The warning comes into place at 5pm today and will remain in place until 5am Sunday.

Spells of heavy rain are expected, with the possibility of a few thundery downpours.

Potential impacts could include localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

A Status Yellow rain warning has also been issued for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford.

The warning will have the same effects as in Cork, Kerry and Waterford, but comes into place at 8pm today and will remain in place until 8am Sunday.

In the North, a similar rainfall warning will be issued for counties Antrim, Armagh and Down from midnight Sunday until 12 noon Sunday.

Today’s forecast

Today will start with a dull and breezy day, with scattered outbreaks of rain in the west and southwest at first.

This will gradually spreading northeastwards across the country throughout the day.

The rain will turn heavier towards the evening in the south and southwest, where warnings will be in place.

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

Thundery bursts are possible with spot flooding likely.

On Sunday, heavy and persistent rain is forecast in the north and east at first, with further thundery falls and spot flooding possible.

The rain will clear northeastwards through the morning with sunshine and showers following from the southwest, some of which will be heavy.

On Sunday night, there will be clear spells and showers for most, though a longer spell of rain will move into the south and southwest, turning heavy at times.

Meanwhile, the new week will start with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers on Monday morning, merging to longer spells of rain at times.

Further outbreaks of rain will develop overnight on Monday.

Advice for today’s warning

In a statement yesterday evening, Cork County Council said its Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this evening to plan its response to the weather.

Crews were deployed on Friday afternoon inspecting “known risk locations across the county”, a council spokesperson said.

Crews will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weekend and pumping precautions will be in place in known problem locations.

Issues such as flooding and road damage should be reported to the Council’s ‘Emergency Out of Hours’ number (021) 4800048.

Call 999 or 112 and request the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Gardaí or Irish Coastguard as appropriate.

In the event of disruption to water supply, please contact Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278.

With reporting by Eoghan Dalton