IT’S SHAPING UP to be a very wet start to the day, with Status Yellow rain warnings in a number of counties across the island.

In the Republic, Cork, Kerry, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Tipperary and Waterford are all under the yellow warning for rain.

Spells of heavy rain, poor visibility and possible localised flooding are expected across the affected counties.

The warning is in place until 2pm in Cork and Kerry, and 5pm in Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Tipperary and Waterford.

In Northern Ireland, the UK Met Office has also issued a Yellow Rain Warning until 9pm for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry, with forecasters warning of travel disruption and brief flooding in places.

Elsewhere, today will stay overcast and wet, with bands of rain moving north and heavier falls in Munster and south Leinster.

Highest temperatures will reach 12 to 15 degrees.

Things should clear a little this evening, with a few dry spells developing further south.

Overnight, rain will linger in the north while clearer skies and patches of fog form elsewhere.

Tomorrow should bring some sunny breaks, but cloud and scattered showers will return by the afternoon.