A STATUS YELLOW thunderstorm warning has been issued by Met Éireann for several counties this evening following a day of heavy rain. 

The warning is in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois and Wicklow until 10pm tonight, with the forecaster warning of heavy thunderstorms locally with lightning. 

A Status Yellow rainfall warning had been in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Connacht, Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath until 7pm this evening.

A rain warning is currently in place for Co Donegal until midnight. 

Heavy persistent rain & blustery winds in northern parts for the rest of the day

Warning in place➡️https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS

Drier further south,bright spells but also with a few heavy/thundery showers.

Highs of 15 to 19C pic.twitter.com/ZMMRaA4MlO

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 14, 2023

The UK Met Office has issued a rain warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry until 9pm.

Tomorrow, Met Éireann is forecasting unseasonably strong winds in some parts of the country.

A Status Yellow wind warning for coastal areas of Galway, Mayo and the off-shore islands will come into effect from 10am and remain in place until 9pm. 

The forecaster said the heavy persistent rain seen today will become mostly confined to the northwest this evening.

Rain will continue to move over northern counties and western counties tonight with clear spells and isolated showers expected elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees are expected.

Some of the showers over the weekend will be heavy and possibly thundery.

Tomorrow will be increasingly windy with widespread showers or longer spells of rain, with temperatures expected to reach highs of 15 to 18 degrees.

Fresh and gusty west to northwest winds are forecast for the afternoon and evening, which will be strong at times, especially near the coast. 

Additional reporting by Lauren Boland and Jane Moore