Met Eireann issues immediate weather warning for two counties as thunderstorms hit

An urgent status yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for Cork and Waterford this afternoon.

The weather alert comes into effect instantly and will be in place until 6pm on Monday.

A Met Eireann spokesman said: "Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and early this evening, bringing some heavy downpours with the risk of spot flooding and hail."

While the rest of the country has avoided the caution, conditions are not predicted to be much better.

A forecaster added: "A mix of scattered showers and sunny spells this afternoon. Some showers will turn heavy in the south through the afternoon, with isolated thunderstorms there. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees in a light to moderate westerly breeze.

The thunderstorms could be triggered by a plume of hot air from eastern Europe (Katie Lunn)

"Dry in many areas tonight with long clear spells. Scattered showers will spread from the west overnight, mainly affecting Munster while elsewhere will hold largely dry. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in a light southerly or variable breeze."

And the national forecaster is keeping an eye on weather trends for later in the week with a potential storm on the way on Thursday.

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