Three countries across Ireland are set to be hit with miserable weather in the coming days after an urgent warning was issued.
Met Eireann is alerting people in Cork, Kerry and Waterford that "hazardous" conditions are on the way this week.
The Status Yellow rain warning will be in effect from 2am on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.
The alert says that "several bands of heavy rainfall will bring accumulations of 30-50mm, with higher totals likely in mountainous regions".
"This may lead to localised flooding and hazardous driving conditions", according to Met Eireann.
As for the rest of the country, the week leading up to Christmas will be wet and cloudy with the chance of snow unlikely at this stage.
Tuesday will be dull and cloudy but dry for most with just a few patches of drizzle and occasional brighter spells and highest temperatures of 4 to 9C.
It will be a cloudy but largely dry to start again tonight. However, rain will spread across Connacht, Munster and parts of Leinster overnight, turning heavy in the southwest by morning.
Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7C, coldest over Ulster and north Leinster, in moderate to fresh southeast winds.
A forecaster said: "Rain will become widespread tomorrow morning, turning heavy at times in the south and southwest.
"The rain will clear northeastwards through the afternoon, with brief drier intervals developing in between lingering patches of drizzle. Further outbreaks of rain will push into the southwest in the evening. Feeling slightly milder with highest temperatures of 7C in the north to 12C in the south.
"A cloudy and wet [Wednesday] night with outbreaks of rain spreading across the country from the southwest again, turning heavy at times.
"A clearance will move into the southwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9C, becoming milder overnight as the rain spreads."
"Rain will clear to the north through Thursday morning, leaving a bright and dry day for most with sunny spells and scattered showers. Relatively mild with highest temperatures of 9 to 11C."
They added: "Turning cloudy again on Thursday night with outbreaks of rain gradually spreading from the southwest. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9C.
"A wet start in many areas on Christmas Eve with continued outbreaks of rain. That rain will clear to the north through the day with some drier spells developing, though scattered patches of light rain and drizzle will linger. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11C.
"There remains some uncertainty in the forecast for Christmas weekend. Current indications suggest that more rain will spread across the country from the southwest on Saturday night. However, with Rudolph's help, Santa will have no problem making his way through the rain.
"Christmas Day looks likely to be cloudy with spells of rain continuing for most and highest temperatures of 7 to 10C.
"Remaining generally unsettled into the final week of 2021 with further spells of rain and some breezy days too. Temperatures turning slightly cooler again."
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