A STATUS YELLOW thunderstorm warning is in place for Leinster and Munster this afternoon alongside a risk of hail and spot flooding.

Met Éireann has warned of scattered, heavy thundery showers for the rest of today with a risk of lightning, hail and spot flooding, particularly across Leinster and munster.

The Status Yellow warning was issued at 2.20pm and remains in effect until 9pm tonight.

Tonight is expected to bring clear spells and more scattered heavy showers with lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees Celsius.

However, the weather looks set to take a warmer turn with highest temperatures in double digits throughout the week.

Met Éireann forecasts that Monday will bring some further showers with longer spells in rain in some areas, but also dry and sunny spells and highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees Celsius.

Tuesday is expected to “remain cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain in the southwest, however it will be drier and brighter elsewhere with just isolated showers mostly over Ulster”.

“It will become mostly dry and clear across the country through the evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees. Moderate northwest winds in most places, but the winds light variable in southwestern coastal parts,” Met Éireann says.

Highest temperatures are forecast to reach 13 to 17 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

“Dry and sunny in most areas, Ulster however will see more cloud about with occasional patchy rain or drizzle in the morning. It will be a warmer day also with highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees in light northwest or variable breezes.”

Thursday is to be “mostly dry with hazy sunshine over much of the country, however cloud will gradually increase from the west from late morning with rain following into Western fringes through the afternoon and evening hours”.

“Highest temperatures will range 15 to 19 degrees, holding slightly cooler in the southwest, in light to moderate southerly breezes.

“The rain will become patchy while extending to most parts on Thursday night, with a slow clearance to brighter showery conditions on Friday.”

Met Éireann says current indications point to a mostly dry and warm weekend at the end of the month.