The country is in for a wet and breezy Christmas morning with outbreaks of rain, which are due to turn heavy at times with a risk of spot flooding.
As torrential conditions head our way, there is a status yellow rain warning in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford.
It came into effect at 5:20 am this morning, and will remain in place until 11:00 pm tonight, with the Irish forecaster explaining there will be “Persistent rain on Christmas Day which will give totals of 30 to 50 mm.
"This may lead to localised flooding.”
It will also be very windy across Ulster and near eastern coasts with strong southeast winds.
However, there will be a clearance in Munster and south Connacht in the early afternoon, becoming brighter there with scattered showers.
The rain will continue elsewhere for much of the day with highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees - but it will be cooler near northern coasts.
Heading into tonight, the rain will continue with gusty conditions moving across Ulster early on, but this will eventually clear northeastwards overnight.
Expect scattered showers with some clear spells elsewhere later on, but the downpours will remain more frequent near Atlantic coasts.
Heavy mist and hill fog will develop as southerly winds ease light to moderate, but winds will be slower to moderate in the north with lowest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees.
St Stephen's Day is also due to bring showers with bright or sunny spells for some.
The rain will be most frequent in the north and northwest through the day with most areas elsewhere experiencing good dry spells during the afternoon with showers becoming more isolated by evening.
There will be light to moderate southerly winds will veer southwest and highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.
