FOUR COUNTIES ARE under Status Yellow rain warnings this morning as December gets off to a soggy start.

Met Éireann has issued alerts for Cork, Kerry and Waterford, where persistent, at times heavy, rain is expected to bring localised flooding and tricky travel conditions through to 9am.

The same warning is in effect for Wexford until 10am.

Rain is widespread across the south and east to start the day, though it’s a bit brighter in the west and north.

The heaviest rain will ease off for a time before another band pushes in from the Atlantic later this afternoon.

Temperatures will reach highs of 7 to 11 degrees, with fresher conditions near southern coasts.

Tonight will turn colder with long clear spells and a touch of frost possible, while Tuesday is set to be bright, breezy and cool, with sunny spells in the east and showers mostly hitting western counties.

Looking ahead, low pressure will keep things unsettled for much of the week, a mix of showers, dry spells and a wet and windy Friday as another spell of rain sweeps in from the west.