Ireland weather: Some respite from the rain but thunderstorm risk in store

Those in the southwest of the country can breathe a sigh of relief as they wake up this Sunday morning as today will be a lot calmer than Saturday.

Cork, Kerry and Waterford were battered by rain as they endured Status Orange conditions throughout a miserable Saturday when there looked to be no let-up from the downpours. Galway, Clare, Limerick and Mayo were spared the worst of the rainfall as Met Eireann cancelled the Status Yellow weather warning for those counties last night.

Flooding caused chaos in many areas, particularly in Bantry in west Cork and Cork city, as the cleanup operation continues this morning.

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Thankfully, Sunday is shaping up to be a much more pleasant day as it will turn dry in most areas into the afternoon, with just isolated showers interrupting sunny spells.

The respite will be short-lived, however, as the rain may return this evening and potentially become heavy at times.

Tomorrow, then, the national forecaster is warning of the risk of thunderstorms as some showers turn heavy.

A spokesperson for Met Eireann said: "Outbreaks of rain will become confined to Ulster and Leinster this morning. Turning mainly dry elsewhere with sunny spells and isolated showers. The rain will clear to the northeast in the afternoon but another spell of rain will move into the west and southwest by evening, heavy at times in the southwest. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees in light to moderate south to southeast winds, freshening in the southwest later.

"Tonight outbreaks of rain will gradually spread northeastwards across the country. The rain will become lighter and patchier as it spreads, with clear spells and showers following from the southwest later. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate south to southeast winds, occasionally fresh in the southwest.

"Sunny spells and scattered showers tomorrow. Some showers will be heavy with the potential for thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds."

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